Oxford News
Emergency closure for some pupils at Oxford secondary school
Oxford Spires Academy, a state secondary school in Glanville Road, East Oxford, was partially closed to some students this afternoon, Friday, July 3.
A notice on the Oxfordshire County Council unplanned school closure’s website said the school was closed for year nine and year ten pupils, with lessons moved online.
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It remained open throughout the day for years seven, eight and 12 and is currently planned to reopen as normal on Monday, July 6.
Oxford Spires Academy, part of the Anthem Schools Trust (Image: Oxford Spires Academy)
The secondary school is part of the Anthem Schools Trust, which runs 15 primary and secondary schools across the East Midlands, London and the Thames Valley.
The Trust confirmed the school was partially closed due to industrial action involving teachers and staff, taken against the trust over ‘redundancy, restructuring and unagreed management practices’.
George Buchanan, head of economics and business at Cheney School, said in a post on Facebook that some of the Oxford Spires Academy joined a picket line strike this morning.
He said: “Teachers and support staff comrades at Oxford Spires Academy [were] on the picket line this morning.
READ MORE: Strike action forced Oxford school into partial closure
“This is the first strike day against redundancy, restructure and unagreed practices of Anthem Schools Trust. Victory to the National Education Union.”
A spokesperson from Anthem Schools Trust, made on behalf of Oxford Spires, said: “We were very disappointed that members of the National Education Union took part in industrial action at Oxford Spires Academy on Friday, July 3.
“However, the academy remained partially open as we worked to minimise disruption for students and their families.”
They added: “We remain committed to constructive and collaborative working with the National Education Union and other trade unions.”
Oxford News
World Cup England footballer Harry Kane should be knighted
Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament urging that Kane be made Sir Harry Kane.
The striker became England’s all‑time leading World Cup scorer when he headed his 11th tournament goal against Panama on Saturday, June 27, breaking Gary Lineker’s long‑standing record of 10 goals set in 1990.
Layla Moran (Image: Contributed)
He then scored two late, match‑saving goals against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, July 1, rescuing England’s campaign and sending them into the Round of 16 to face Mexico on Monday, July 6.
Ms Moran says Kane has shown “inspirational leadership on and off the pitch” and deserves formal recognition. So far, she is the only MP to have signed the motion.
Oxford News
Strike action forced Oxford school into partial closure
The teachers, staff and supporters of the National Education Union set up a picket line outside Oxford Spires Academy in Glanville Road today, Friday, July 3, which forced the school to close to some year groups.
It comes amid an ongoing dispute with Anthem Schools Trust, which runs Oxford Spires, over ‘restructuring, redundancies and unagreed management practices’, which the union said has left staff at the school feeling they don’t have ‘autonomy or a voice concerning working practices’.
READ MORE: Emergency closure for some pupils at Oxford secondary school
Staff and union representatives raised concerns over the centralisation of services to the parent Anthem Academy Trust, ‘the absence of agreed employment practices’ and a ‘lack of transparency over budget allocation and spending’.
The union said promised regular consultation meetings have not taken place and that there are concerns over a lack of commitment from the Trust not to commence any further significant restructuring or redundancies at Oxford Spires Academy.
Stuart Robertson, union joint branch secretary for Oxfordshire, said: “Union members at Oxford Spires Academy have no option but to take this industrial action, due to outstanding matters of concern that will have a real impact on them and in turn frontline services.
“We regret the inconvenience caused by strikes and hope that ongoing negotiations will lead to a speedy resolution of this avoidable dispute.”
READ MORE: Oxfordshire arrests after police chase with major response
A picket line was set up at the school during the strike today with further days of action planned for Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9, and next month on September 9, 10 and 11, with pickets from 7.30am to 9.30am ‘as a minimum’.
Members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action on a turnout of 65 per cent.
Oxford Spires Academy (Image: Oxford Spires Academy)
The union concedes that recent negotiations resulted in the Trust’s CEO agreeing to a road map for drafting, consulting and agreeing new policies and assurances have been given that the CFO will provide an overview of the Trust’s financial position.
But union members are requesting a fully transparent, independent review of funding and spending due to ‘disproportionately high senior management pay rises.
The union said it remains open to coming to a negotiated settlement and will hold an open online meeting to discuss the dispute with parents if it continues.
Oxford Spires Academy was partially closed due to the strike today (Image: Newsquest)
A spokesperson for Anthem Schools Trust said: “We were very disappointed that members of the National Education Union took part in industrial action at Oxford Spires Academy on Friday, July 3.
“However, the academy remained partially open as we worked to minimise disruption for students and their families.
“The industrial action relates to the restructure of non-educational services within the trust and its academies.
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“We recognise that this represents a significant organisational change and acknowledge the concerns raised at Oxford Spires regarding local autonomy and operational effectiveness.
“We remain committed to constructive and collaborative working with the National Education Union and other trade unions.
“Our door remains open to union representatives and we are keen to continue discussions in the hope of resolving these concerns.”
Oxford News
Oxfordshire arrests after police chase with major response
Police arrested two men in Chipping Norton yesterday, Thursday, July 2, after officers discovered a stolen vehicle in Evans Way at about 8.30am.
One of the occupants of the car tried to flee the scene, leading to a chase involving neighbourhood police officers and others in a ‘large police presence’.
READ MORE: Oxford ring road closed both ways due to ‘police incident’
He was eventually caught and detained, and both occupants of the car were arrested.
One man was arrested on recall to prison, and the other was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We understand that a large police presence may be distressing for local residents and we want to reassure you that there is no wider risk to the public at this time.
“If you have any concerns or information in relation to similar offences, please call 101 or report via our website. In an emergency, always call 999.”
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