News: School governors accused of breaking the law (March 2007)
Union leaders have accused school governors of breaking the law by dismissing a teacher without reason, reports PA News.
Newcastle under Lyme School in Staffordshire was closed today (27/3/07) after the majority of teachers voted in favour of strike action over the dismissal of the school's head of English, Peter Cash.
He was dismissed on the last day of the autumn term and has not yet been informed on the reasons why, according to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers(ATL).
Governors at the school held talks with ATL and NASUWTmembers throughout the day.
The unions are now calling for a meeting with the incoming principal, who takes up the position on April 1, but are also threatening further action if Mr Cash is not reinstated.
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "ATL has done everything in its power to try to avert this one-day strike, but it has not been possible to negotiate with the governors of the school.
"The governors have broken the law. They have denied Mr Cash basic justice in failing to give him the right to defend himself against allegations before dismissing him.
"In so doing the governors and school leaders have brought the school into disrepute locally and nationally.
"We are dismayed at being forced to take this action.
"Let us hope today's strike will signal to the management the conviction of staff that they will not allow a colleague to be treated so badly, nor will they condone this treatment through inaction."
The strike affected both the junior and senior school, which together employs around 90 teachers plus additional teaching assistants.
