Nottingham City Council’s decision to adopt a new school holiday pattern as from 2013-14 against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of teachers and other school staff is a disgrace. Their biased and misleading public consultation could not even secure a convincing majority of parents in favour.  In spite of this, the arrogance of City decision makers means that Nottingham City Council will be the first local authority in the country to adopt a five term year with a shortened summer break.

The changes, described by the Council as ‘modernising’ have far reaching educational and practical implications and risk damaging the education of pupils in the City significantly.  This untested experiment with the future of prospects of our young people shows a complete disregard for the views of those who spend their working lives teaching in the City.  Here today, gone tomorrow, politicians should show a bit more humility and recognise they have much to learn.

Our members have told us how angry they are about the imposition of changes which have always been a matter for negotiation in the past. An on-going survey of our members indicates that 72% would be prepared to consider industrial action to resist the changes. Clearly that is a step that teachers would prefer not to take and it is time for the Council to put plans on hold and enter genuine negotiations on this matter. We will be pressing them to do so before deciding what further action to take.

Nottingham City Council is developing a reputation for being amongst the worst employers of teachers. Many of our members have told us they will simply seek employment elsewhere if the changes to holidays go ahead. Rather than working as a good employer, alongside teachers, Nottingham prefers to impose initiatives on employees generating a lack of confidence in their strategic management.  This is likely to backfire and threatens to lower educational standards in the City rather than raise them.’