Head backs teachers to walk out for day as six schools to close over strike

A headteacher has spoken out in support of teachers who will strike over government changes to pensions and force the closure of six Macclesfield primary schools.

On Thursday (June 30) pupils at Adlington Primary School, Ash Grove Primary, Prestbury Primary School, Ivy Bank Primary School, St John the Evangelist Primary and Lower Park Primary School in Poynton will all shut.

Some classes will be cancelled at Hollinhey and Rainow primary schools and Fallibroome Academy, All Hallows Catholic College, Tytherington High School, and Poynton High School.

Michael Gove, education secretary, proposes to increase the retirement age to 68, raise contributions and reduce the weekly pension by up to 50 per cent.

Kevin Harrison, headteacher at Macclesfield High School, which will stay open apart from a handful of year 12 classes, said he’s fully supportive of teachers choosing to strike.

He said: "All of the staff fully support the action that’s being taken.

"My job as head is to help try to keep the school open and we have fulfilled that responsibility, but I wouldn’t do anything to undermine those who are striking."

He added: "Teachers didn’t come into teaching because of pensions, they came in to it because they want to be teachers.

"The issue is that teachers have, for years, contributed to a pension scheme in the belief they would receive a reasonable pension when the retire. "The Government is now moving the goal posts and changing the rules so staff will find they haven’t got the pension they were expecting, making their lives very difficult in retirement."

Two teachers’ trade unions – the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers – voted in favour of strike action.

They say changes will leave them working longer, paying more and getting less when they retire.

Nick Grant, NUT national executive member, said: "Unless the government makes an immediate and fundamental reversal of its plans to make us pay more, and work longer to get less pension in retirement, strike action will start with one day’s stoppage on June 30."