Independent teachers as likely to be members of government pension scheme as state counterparts ? but maybe not for long
Teachers at independent schools are as likely to be part of the teachers' pension scheme (TPS) as their colleagues in state schools. The scheme, which is underwritten by the government, counts staff at more than 1,400 independent schools as members, according to Lord Hutton's review. Some 1,639 of those teachers work at top public schools such as St Paul's, Harrow and Eton.
The Department for Education has said that by allowing independent school teachers access to the scheme, all teachers can move easily between the private and state sectors. But Hutton has recommended the scheme should no longer be available to independent school teachers.
At Berkhamsted school, a private school in Hertfordshire, at least 45 of the 180 teachers plan to strike.
Mark Steed, the principal, says he is sympathetic to "anyone who is expecting one level of pension and then finds the goalposts have moved". The school will not need to close because several year groups are away. But, Steed says, "never in our 470-year history have we had teachers on strike".
Malcolm St John-Smith (below left), who teaches at an independent school in West Yorkshire, will be joining the industrial action. He is furious at the proposals to exclude independent school teachers from the scheme.
St John-Smith is 65 and on the verge of retiring, so the reforms will not affect him. But he is worried about how the changes will affect younger colleagues and schools such as his in future.
If independent schools are not allowed to be part of the TPS, they will have to set up private pensions, he says. These are likely to be much less attractive to teachers.
St John-Smith will receive an annual pension of approximately �11,500 before tax. "It's hardly so-called gold-plated, especially when you compare it to what MPs receive," he says. His school will not be closed and there won't be a picket line. Instead, those who are on strike will attend a march in nearby Wakefield.
Few ? if any ? independent schools are likely to close on Thursday, teaching unions say. Geoff Lucas, secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an association of 243 leading independent schools, says schools are "creatively exploring" options to mark the strike without having to take industrial action.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which is striking on Thursday and counts independent school teachers among members, says many teachers will wear their union badge to work, while others have written letters to their MPs.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/27/why-are-private-school-teachers-joining-strike
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