Teachers at one of Wales' top private schools have ended weeks of historic strike action after a deal over pensions was made with their employer.
NEU members at Howell's School, Llandaff, voted to call off their strike action after talks with the National Education Union at ACAS and employer , the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). It was the first-ever strike in the trust's 149-year history.
Following the unprecedented action union members at Howell's, one of the 23 independent schools run by the Girls’ Day School Trust , voted to accept the offer allowing them to stay in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
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The threat of fire and rehire has also been withdrawn; and an enhanced pay offer has been made for all staff, teachers, and support staff.
Howell's, established in 1860, is part of the GDST, a national organisation comprising 23 mainly single-sex independent schools in England and Wales.
The NEU said "sadly" it was unable to reach an agreed negotiated settlement with the GDST.
In a statement the union said: "A significant concern for the union remains the proposal to close the scheme to new teachers.
"The union and its members at the GDST trust schools believe this decision by the trust is short sighted and will lead to a two-tier system and recruitment difficulties in the future.
"NEU members are relieved to be returning to the classroom. However, there is now significant work to be done to try and rebuild the staff's trust and confidence in the GDST which has been so diminished by this dispute.
David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union Cymru, said:
"NEU members working at Howell’s School should be proud of their solidarity, resolution and spirit, shown throughout this dispute. In standing up for their rights they were forced to take unprecedented and historic strike action to defend their pensions.
"Our members at GDST, 80% of them women, gave a lesson in the values that they seek to instil in the girls
they educate: being principled, knowing your worth, and standing up for what is right – values we in Wales all hold dear. NEU members will continue to be supported by their union.”
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