MARK KERRISON | Photojournalist

Slough, UK. 19th September, 2024. NEU members from Baylis Court School stand on a picket line on the first day of a strike over a medical absence policy at two Thames Learning Trust schools. Currently, the leave of absence policy at Baylis Court School and Reading Girls School does not permit members of staff to receive paid time off to attend medical appointments or to accompany dependents to attend such appointments. Strikes over the issue at both schools, for which members voted 100% in favour on a turnout of 78%, are scheduled for 19th and 24th-25th September and 1st-3rd October.