TEACHERS at a village school are threatening to strike next week in a dispute over redundancies and potential job losses.

Parents and pupils at Gwersyllt CP face two days of disruption next week as teachers at the school prepare take part in industrial action.

Members of the NASUWT, the Teachers' Union are planning to walk out on Tuesday and Wednesday in a dispute over redundancies.

Catrin Pritchard, the headteacher, said that while all efforts have been made to maintain essential services to pupils and avert the strike, the industrial action will result in some class closures within the school.

Miss Pritchard said: "The decision to close classes or the school is never taken lightly but, in this instance, where staff have elected to take lawful industrial action, I will have no choice but to take appropriate steps to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of pupils."

Miss Pritchard acknowledged the inconvenience the action will have on parents and guardians, but offered some reassurance that at least the entire school will not have to close.

The school will be open for pupils in Snowy Owls, Harriers and Class One only, and they are advised to attend school as normal, but all other classes will be closed for both days of the action.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, The Teachers’ Union, said: “Strike action is always a last resort for teachers and it is regrettable that members of the NASUWT have been left with no option but to call two days of action at Gwersyllt Community Primary School due to potential restructuring, and associated redundancies and job losses.

“Parents and the wider community should be left in no doubt that the NASUWT remains willing to engage with the employer to find a resolution to this dispute, with a view to withdrawing the planned industrial action. Parents will also be rightly concerned about the impact of the proposals the NASUWT is challenging on their children.

“If the strike does go ahead, the NASUWT deeply regrets any disruption the action will cause pupils and parents.”

Parents are already making preparations for the disruption. Sarah Jones has two sons at the school but only one will be affected by the strike.

She said: “My youngest’s teacher isn’t striking but my eldest won’t be in school because his teacher will be off.

“I haven’t got an issue with them going on strike because they are doing it for the right reasons."

She added: “I support them in their strike action because I think they have to lose two teachers.

“Next year things are changing for the school and they could possibly do without them [extra teachers].

“But for the foreseeable future as it is now they need the staff.”

Kim Salisbury (pictured) has a nine-year-old son at the school and supports the strike.

She said: “I heard about the strike last week when we got a letter from the school on Friday.

“I understand why they have to do it [strike] because the redundancies affect their families in the same way that it affects ours."

She added: "I work part time and will have to make arrangements to work around it.

“I understand the principals behind the strike and I fully support them.

“My son’s education is fine and we’ve received a lot of support from the school and all the teaching staff as well."

Catrin Pritchard, Headteacher at Gwersyllt Community Primary School, said: "Gwersyllt Community Primary School is, of course, very disappointed by NASUWT's decision to take strike action, and both Wrexham Council and the school are concerned about the impact that strike action will have on its pupils and parents.  

"The school has had to take a difficult decision on staffing for September 2018 and, in keeping with the school motto - Putting Children First - this meant having to make two surplus teachers redundant by following the agreed Redeployment and Redundancies procedure. 

"However, staff have the right to strike if they wish, and we will respect that right."

Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: "We at Wrexham Council are fully supportive of the headteacher and governing body at Gwersyllt Community Primary School, and are also disappointed that NASUWT union members at the school have decided to take strike action, given the challenges the school has had to face to work within its allocated cash budget for the forthcoming academic year.”