Partial emergency closure at Oxford school announced

Oxford Spires Academy has announced it will be part open tomorrow, Wednesday, 8 July, hosting in-person teaching only for years 10 and 12.

The school was last week forced into a similar emergency closure due to strike action taken by members of the National Education Union against Anthem Schools Trust, which manages Oxford Spires.

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Another picket line is due to be set up outside the Glanville Road school tomorrow, Wednesday, 8 July, from 7.30am until around 9am.

Teachers, staff and supporters on the picket line outside Oxford Spires Academy on Friday, July 3 (Image: National Education Union)

The school’s teachers and staff are in an ongoing dispute with Anthem Schools Trust over ‘restructuring, redundancies and unagreed management practices’.

Strikes are planned for Wednesday and Thursday this week and next month on September 9, 10 and 11, after members voted 98 per cent in favour of industrial action on a turnout of 65 per cent.

The union’s branch secretary for Oxfordshire, Stuart Robertson, earlier said: “We regret the inconvenience caused by strikes and hope that ongoing negotiations will lead to a speedy resolution of this avoidable dispute.”

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Their concerns include the centralisation of services to the school’s trust, a lack of agreed employment practices and a lack of transparency over budget allocation and spending.

A spokesperson for Anthem Schools Trust previously said: “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.”