OXFORD teachers went on strike this morning over a dispute over their pensions.

Seventy-five teachers from Oxford High School, a private girls’ school off Banbury Road, voted to take industrial action in protest at changes to their pension.

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), which runs Oxford High, is planning to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), of which most teachers nationally are a part.

Members of NASUWT: The Teachers’ Union at Oxford High began the first of four days of planned strike action this morning, over what NASUWT describes ‘an inferior scheme’ being imposed on teachers.

NASUWT adds that staff have been threatened with dismissal from their jobs if they refuse to sign new contracts which include the ‘downgraded’ pension entitlement.

Read also: Major breakthrough made in county in copying process which powers the sun

Rob Packard, NASUWT representative at Oxford High, and head of philosophy and religious studies at the school, said: “The trust is proposing to take us out of TPS, where we have a definite outcome and a pension for life when we retire.

“Oxford High School has been very civilised – it’s a very good school and we love teaching the kids.

“The staff have worked so hard during Covid, the parents have applauded how hard we worked during home learning.

“We worked our socks off and then we come back to this, that’s what makes us most angry.”

Across the country, 23 GDST schools voted for strike action – including at Oxford High, which counts Maggie Smith, Mel Giedroyc and Miriam Margolyes as alumni.

Elaine Paling, national executive member of NASUWT, for Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire, said: “Oxford High School prides itself on its moral integrity but it is morally wrong to threaten staff with fire and rehire tactics.

“In a time of teacher shortages, it’s a short-sighted move.

“Teachers really do appreciate TPS and will go to schools which have it.”

Mark Thomas, regional officer for the National Education Union, added: “There hasn’t been industrial action in GDST for more than 100 years and for some teachers, it’s the first time that they’ve gone on strike.

“TPS is the gold standard, to which 80 per cent of teachers belong – GDST intends to replace it with an inferior scheme.

“Some teachers will lose tens of thousands of pounds from their pension, while for others it will be hundreds of thousands.

“The dispute is salvageable though – it’s up to the trust to do that, to talk to staff and listen.”

Read more: Oxford pianist makes debut recital in London

NASUWT claims ‘there is no financial justification for GDST to attempt to cut teachers’ pension entitlements’, claiming the trust’s finances are ‘in a healthy condition with total funds of £461.9 million and available reserves of £43.1 million’ as of August 2020.

GDST said the decision to consult with staff was ‘reluctantly reached’ following a 43 per cent increase in employer contributions to TPS, implemented by the Government in 2019.

The trust says its proposed Flexible Pension Plan is a ‘strong alternative pension scheme’ with a 20 per cent employer contribution, alongside other benefits.

Cheryl Giovannoni, chief executive of GDST, said: “Sadly, the increase to the TPS employer costs has had a severe impact on our expenditure and has put us in a very difficult position.

“We understand the strength of feeling amongst our teachers over this issue and of course the concerns raised by our parents.

“We care deeply about our teachers and would not have put forward these proposals unless we felt they were absolutely necessary to support the long-term sustainability of the GDST family of schools.

“The unsustainable cost pressures of the TPS are being felt acutely across the independent schools’ sector.

“Following a 43 per cent increase in employer contributions to the TPS implemented by the Government in 2019, in the region of 300 independent schools have left or are planning to leave the TPS, and many others are consulting on doing so.

“We hope that, once trustees make their decision at the end of February, we can reach an agreement with the NEU and with our teachers and that strike action after that date can be avoided in order to minimise disruption to our students’ education.”

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok

Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here

List an event for free on our website here