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.”