A THREE-DAY strike began at a Blackburn school this morning over performance-related pay.

Around 20 staff members and union chiefs formed a picket line at Pleckgate High School after claiming the pay committee was overturning decisions which would give teachers a ‘legitimate’ pay rise.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The industrial action by NASUWT members comes after a walkout was cancelled two weeks ago.

Claire Ward, NASUWT negotiating secretary, said: “Targets set for teachers have to be fair in order for people to achieve them.

“What is happening is that appraisers are making a decision that a teacher has reached a target for a pay rise and then that is being overturned by the pay committee, which we have never heard of at any other school.

“An appraisal is a discussion between two professionals so I don’t understand why this is happening. Any faith that these staff members had in the school is now lost.

“This decision has not been taken lightly.

“The staff did not want to have to do this but who knows who could be affected by this in the future.

“Some teachers are coming in on Saturdays out of their own good will to teach children and are not being given a pay rise.

“It is impossible to negotiate and we are not even talking about masses of money here.”

Union bosses said they had suggested solutions and asked governors to compromise but have been turned down and the school has failed to enter ‘any meaningful negotiations’.

The school in Pleckgate Road is closed today to all students apart from Year 10 and 11.

Staff and union chiefs stood outside the front of the school for around an hour and a half in protest.

The union added, nationally, teachers’ salaries have fallen an average of 25 per cent behind comparable professions.

Pleckgate is run by the Education Partnership Trust after becoming an academy in February.

A spokesman for the school said: "Providing outstanding education for our pupils is the key priority for Pleckgate High School and the Education Partnership Trust. We have made rapid progress towards this in the last 12 months, by working together with our staff, students and parents.

"It is disappointing that the NASUWT has decided to take strike action despite significant attempts to resolve local disputes and previous agreements having been reached. We have given reassurances to our parents and staff, that the school will remain open, and disruption will be minimised."