MORE than 30 teachers and support staff took to the picket line in a half day strike about plans to convert Bowland High School into an academy.

Staff from the NUT, NASUWT, ATL and Unison joined forces for the first time yesterday to show their opposition to the proposals.

Their protests forced the school to close with students only attending for exams.

It was revealed that a full day strike would have resulted in three days pay being deducted under trade union laws.

Vehicles passing the school honked their horns as staff chanted to demonstrate their strength of feeling.

And unions warned that although another date for strike action had not been planned they are able to strike again as they have a ballot for discontinuous strike action. It was the second strike at the school.

The NUT warned that staff could leave if the Grindleton school moves to academy status.

Academy status would free the school from local authority control and would be in charge of its budget, the curriculum, admissions and much more as a result.

Jim Howarth, joint Lancashire secretary for the ATL, said: “The ATL is noted for its moderate views. We are aware the education for the children has been disrupted and members have taken a half day.

“It is a dispute over pay and conditions and our member want theirs to be protected.”

Keith Bradley, regional organiser and lead officer for schools in the north west for Unison, said: “This is the first time we have gone out on strike with teaching unions. It shows the strength of feeling about the school’s plans.”

John Girdley, Lancashire representative for NASUWT, said: “It is the first time in the country that all four unions have come out to get this message across to the community.”

Headteacher Stephen Cox said: “The decision on whether to become an academy or not has been carefully considered by the governing body and the senior leadership at Bowland High. The governing body placed a high priority on consulting with staff parents and pupils throughout the process, “After considering the views expressed by all these key groups, the governing body came to a democratic decision that academy status was in the best interest of our current and future pupils.”