Union agrees to suspend strike action at schools

Strike action by teachers at four Lincolnshire schools has been suspended.

The National Education Union (NEU) said the industrial action, which had been running since May, was over the Horncastle Education Trust not agreeing to recognise unions.

The dispute involves staff at Banovallum School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Horncastle, New York and Frithville Primary School in Boston, and Huttoft Primary School.

The NEU said the trust had agreed to recognise trade unions and it would hold a further ballot of its members in October about resolving the dispute.

Sandra James, CEO of the trust, welcomed "the progress that has been made through discussions with both NASUWT and the NEU".

"This gives us the opportunity to move forward constructively and continue the positive work that has taken place," she added.

"Everyone involved shares the same fundamental priority: providing the best possible education for our pupils.

"We will continue working with our union colleagues to fulfil the agreements reached and ensure our schools can focus on supporting their pupils, staff and wider communities."

NEU staff at the schools have taken seven days of strike action since May and members of the NASUWT union have also staged walkouts.

An NEU spokesperson said: "We believe negotiations are moving in the right direction and hope that we will be in a position to agree on better working conditions for staff and, therefore, better learning conditions for students.

"Staff are committed to resolving the dispute so that children can remain in the classroom and continue to receive a high standard of education."

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