Teachers at two schools in Reading and Slough are striking after being denied paid time off for medical appointments.

Members of the NEU union were set to strike at Reading Girls' School and Baylis Court School in Slough on Thursday, September 19. The union says a new policy by school bosses will force staff to take unpaid leave to attend medical appointments.

Slough NEU branch secretary Damien Randall said: “It’s hard enough getting an appointment, but to be told it needs to be at certain times of day makes it almost impossible.

“It’s cheaper to let staff see a doctor/dentist when they need to, without the fear of losing pay, than pay for long-term cover for sickness. Supporting staff will always cost less than not supporting staff.”

He added that the teachers had been ‘forced’ to take the action by the policy which he said ‘may penalise staff for needing to go to attend medical appointments’.

The new policy has been brought in by bosses at the Thames Learning Trust, which runs both schools.

The NEU says that under an agreement with the trust the union should be consulted on all changes to policy. It also says that in recent negotiations over the changes the trust agreed that staff could get paid time off for medical appointments – but only with headteachers’ permission.

And teachers would be allowed two days a year to accompany their dependents – such as children – to appointments.

The trust would also require teachers to provide evidence that they had tried to arrange appointments outside of working hours, the union says.

Teachers rejected this offer, with the NEU saying they were ‘not willing to accept these limits on leave to accompany dependants to appointments or the fact that the headteacher would be able to refuse requests to attend any medical appointment’.

The union added: “Members have further concerns about the Trust’s requirement that staff provide evidence that they attempt to rearrange appointments for outside of working hours, as it is unrealistic to expect the overburdened NHS to provide this additional evidence.”

Thames Learning Trust and management at both schools could not be contacted for comment after repeated attempts.

The NEU says further strikes are scheduled for Monday, September 24, Tuesday, September 25, and October 1, 2 and 3. The Chronicle understands around 40 teachers could be on strike at Reading Girls' School and 30 at Baylis Court.

It also plans to hold an online meeting via the Zoom app for parents and interested members of the community on Tuesday, September 24, at 7pm.