School-strike talks end without decision

Talks to end a school strike triggered after a pupil allegedly assaulted a teacher adjourned today without settlement.

Twenty-five teachers from Movilla High School in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, began industrial action on Monday after employers docked their pay when they refused to teach the boy at the centre of the assault allegation.

The South Eastern Education Library Board (SEELB) and the NASUWT union have been involved in two days of intensive talks at the Labour Relations Agency in an effort to resolve the dispute at the school.

It is understood the union is now waiting for the board’s response to a new offer before deciding whether the action will continue on Monday.

NASUWT representative Seamus Searson would say only that “more work needed to be done” before settlement is reached.

The school’s 520 pupils have not been able to attend classes since Monday.

The SEELB has so far stood by the school governors’ decision not to expel the pupil involved.