1. Thurston Community College
A High Performing College with Specialisms in Science and Training
A Lead School for Gifted and Talented Provision
Principal
H Wilson BSc MBA
Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB
23 November 2011
Dear Parent / Carer
We have been informed by the NAHT, NUT, ATL, NASUWT and UNISON unions that they will be taking industrial
action in the form of a strike on Wednesday 30 November 2011. This action is not against the College itself but is
part of national industrial action organised by these trade unions about proposed changes to the pension schemes
of their members.
Unions are not required to inform us which members of staff will take action and it may be that they will not know
themselves as there is no obligation on members of unions to obey a strike call. Although non-striking staff will be
on site, it is not lawful for the College to use other staff or supply teachers to cover the lessons of those teachers
taking strike action. Neither the Governing Body nor the Principal are legally allowed to close the College ‘in sym-
pathy’ with the strike.
Our main concern is our ability to ensure the safe supervision of all students. Rather than leave the decision until
the day of the strike, which may cause difficulties for parents, we have taken the decision to ask staff to indicate
their intention regarding the strike action. Taking their responses into account and having completed a full risk as-
sessment, we have decided to close the College to all students on 30 November 2011. This decision has been
made on the basis that we are unable to guarantee adequate staff numbers to ensure the safety of students on the
College site.
May I ask for your support in encouraging your son/daughter to continue with his/her studies from home. All stu-
dents have books from which they can study. In addition, I would recommend the BBC ‘Bitesize’ Website (http://
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize) which provides an online revision service and the Learning Platform, accessed
through the FROG link on the College website (www.thurston.org.uk).
We all hope that the issues over which the industrial action has arisen are resolved as soon as possible. Should
the proposed industrial action not go ahead, we will of course inform you at the earliest opportunity.
Yours sincerely
Cler Hobbs Helen Wilson
Chair of Governors Principal
Telephone: 01359 230885 Fax: 01359 230880 e-mail: admin@thurstoncollege.suffolk.sch.uk www.thurston.org.uk