Student's worried as Shrewsbury college staff to take more strike action

Staff at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College went on strike last week in protest over restructuring and the implications of the proposals for workload and pay.

Further disruption will take place on Thursday involving 64 teaching staff.

All examinations will continue as outside invigilators have been employed.

But students at the college say they are missing out on vital learning time and exam preparation.

Some studying at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College claim they have lost only a few hours of teaching time while others say it is as much as 15 hours of lessons.

One even said she was unable to get support from her language teacher on the morning of an exam, due to her being on strike.

Another said that two of his four A-level subjects, in which he is due to sit exams within weeks, have been disrupted due to the strike action.

Staff at the college, which has campuses at Welsh Bridge and in the old Wakeman School building, in Abbey Foregate, who are members of the NASUWT and the NUT went on strike last week in protest over restructuring and the implications of the proposals for workload and pay, which could impact adversely on the quality of education provision for students.

Further disruption will take place on Thursday involving 64 teaching staff.

According to Heather Stretton, NUT regional officer: "Union members are concerned about the long-term effects of these changes on the education of students.

"The college's imposition of the restructuring proposals has had a major impact on staff morale and is likely to lead to more disruption in the summer and autumn terms."

But students are concerned that their exam results could be jeopardised by the strike action.

One said: "I feel that Shrewsbury Sixth Form College students have been put at a disadvantage to other colleges and fear that another strike may have an impact on my A-level results. I think that the unions should protest in a way which doesn't disrupt the students' education."

On a Facebook page entitled Save our Subjects at Shrewsbury Sixth Form, members say they are campaigning to stop a third year of restructuring.

They claim: "The proposed restructuring will mean the abolition of subject area head posts and other posts with responsibility allowances, which means the loss of expertise and experience, an increase in work load for all teachers which means less support available to individual students, pay cuts of up to 10 per cent and a lack of promotion.

"We have not, and never have, called for reduced teaching time with students, as management have implied in a letter to parents."

Martin Ward, principal at the college, said: "It is a very disappointing situation. We fully support and understand the concerns of the students but we have to find an affordable and sustainable curriculum management system."