DE LA Salle has been closed today - except to year 11 pupils - due to a strike by members of the NASUWT trade union.

Staff members formed a picket line outside the school's Mill Brow entrance this morning for the first of six planned industrial actions.

The strike is in response to union members' grievance over the governing body’s decision not to implement a discretionary pay award of two per cent to a small number of teachers who are on the top of the main pay scale.

A one per cent award has been given to all teaching staff.

The school was open to year 11 students today due to the proximity to their upcoming GCSE exams.

Mick Burrows, the NASUWT national executive member for Merseyside, said: “It was very disappointing that having spent hours in ACAS talks, the employer simply refused to move on a very straightforward matter.

“There was no need for the employer to ever be in this position if they had simply paid teachers in accordance with their statutory entitlements.”

In a letter to parents De La Salle head teacher John Toal expressed his regret at the strike and stated the school governors did not want to give rewards which "may be perceived to be unfair".

The letter said: "The governors have implemented a pay award of one per cent for all teaching staff which is something that the government did not require them to do.

"Governors wanted all teachers to receive a pay award and felt this should all be at the same level, i.e. one per cent.

"The governors did not want a situation whereby it may be perceived to be unfair where some teachers receive one per cent and some two per cent.

"Furthermore, the local authority, who budget ahead for the outcome of any pay award, only made provision for one per cent in the school budget.

"Equally, given the current special measures category the school finds itself in, the governors could not justify being seen to provide a more generous pay award.

"Governors are disappointed with the decision to take strike action and with support from the local authority, attempted to persuade the NASUWT to suspend this action pending further discussion."

The letter added: "This is a letter which we send with considerable regret and we are acutely aware of the logistical

implications this news will have for families.

"It is also a regrettable development, particularly given the sound and secure progress we are making to take the school out of special measures, as highlighted in our most recent Ofsted monitoring visit in March."

A St Helens Council spokesman said: “The council is doing all it can to support the governors of De La Salle School in their efforts to resolve this dispute.

"We have also involved conciliation service ACAS in an effort to avoid further disruption at the school."

Further strikes are planned for Tuesday, May 3, Thursday, May 5, Tuesday, May 10, Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12.