Staff at Farringtons School – a private school in Bromley – had taken six days of strike action earlier this term, following the school’s decision to review its pension arrangements as a result of rising costs.
Talks and negotiations over the Easter holiday has resolved the dispute, with a successful outcome for the staff.
The school confirmed that teachers would be able to remain on the current pension program without cuts to their pay, along with the main pay scale being increased.
The school additionally agreed to voluntarily recognise the teacher’s unions to negotiate on pay, terms and conditions in the future – subject to an ACAS ballot of all teachers and further ACAS talks.
Previously the school had stated it was no longer able to afford to remain in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), with employer contributions having more than doubled since 2015.
It had planned to move teachers to a different scheme or offer them the option to stay in the TPS — but with a salary cut to offset the higher costs.
There were also concerns over low pay and lack of formal union recognition.
Farringtons charges up to £50,000 per year in fees and currently pays newly qualified teachers £33,757 — almost £3,000 less than a state school teacher in the same area, according to the NEU.
The highest-paid teachers at the school receive £50,534, compared to £53,994 for their state sector counterparts.
However, the National Education Union (NEU) confirmed that the strike had been called off following talks on Monday, after governors agreed to enter formal negotiations with teachers over pay, pensions and union recognition.
Negotiations took place through ACAS, the government’s independent conciliation service.
In a joint statement, Farringtons School, the National Education Union (NEU) and NASUWT confirmed that negotiations over the Easter holidays had led to a settlement, whereby teachers can remain in the TPS without their pay being cut, as well as the main pay scale being raised to match current state pay.
The full statement reads: “Farringtons School, the National Education Union (NEU) and NASUWT are pleased to announce that the industrial dispute at Farringtons School has been resolved.
“The parties entered ACAS talks before the Easter holidays. These led to a negotiated settlement which includes the option for teachers to remain in TPS without their pay being cut as well as the main pay scale being raised to match current state pay.
“From September, teachers can either choose to keep the same pay and pensions arrangements or opt out of TPS and into an alternative defined-contribution pension scheme and receive a further 3.5 per cent pay rise.
“The school has also agreed to voluntarily recognise the teacher’s unions to negotiate on pay, terms and conditions in the future – subject to an ACAS ballot of all teachers and further ACAS talks to finalise the arrangements.
“Union members have now voted to accept the improved offer and further action has been called off.”
