Strike school 'to remain closed'

Teachers at the school are protesting

The school at the centre of a dispute between teachers and education authorities is to remain closed.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board said it deeply regretted that no resolution had been found to the dispute at the County Down school.

Some teachers at the 540-pupil Movilla High School in Newtownards have been striking since Monday.

The dispute arose over their pay being docked when they refused to teach a pupil they claim assaulted one of them.

Talks at the Labour Relations Agency late last week failed to resolve the situation.

Representatives of the NASUWT, the union representing the 25 striking teachers, said they put a proposal to the SEELB to resolve the dispute but had not been contacted by the board over the weekend.

The union said it had asked the board to make alternative arrangements for the pupil.

In a statement issued on Sunday the board confirmed that the school would remain closed on Monday.

The board said it had "made a number of offers to the trade unions" in a bid to resolve the dispute.

"The trade unions have rejected the offers and are demanding that the pupil be taught in total isolation from other pupils and teachers in the school or that the particular pupil is requested to leave the school.

"The board and board of governors cannot accede to these demands, however, the Board will continue to make itself available for further discussions to find a resolution of this dispute."