A teaching union has stepped up industrial action in a long-running pay dispute.

The National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers’s refusal to cover teacher absence could potentially lead to schools having to close.

The NASUWT began the second phase of its action short of a strike on Wednesday (October 7).

Head teachers have written to parents explaining what the impact of this might be.

In the event of teachers being off work, schools might not be able to staff all classes.

Meanwhile a breakaway union has distanced itself from the industrial action.

The fledgling Education Union of Mann says this is not the time to pursue additional pay increases for teachers.

Ramsey Grammar School head teacher Annette Baker warned parents the NASUWT’s action will have possible consequences for the safe running of the school.

She said: ’Chief amongst these is the possibility that I will be unable to staff all classes in the event of teacher absence. In order to ensure all students are adequately supervised, I may have to place students from different year groups and subjects in a larger room for part of the school day.’

Mrs Baker, who is secondary school representative with the NAHT union, said she will only be in a position to assess the extent of any staffing shortages on the morning of any given school day.

’We will do our best to minimise disruption to students’ learning,’ she said.

’We are sorry this is the situation. We are hoping that talks to resolve this dispute will resume as a matter of urgency.’

Unlike the NASUWT, the industrial action by the NAHT and ASCL unions does not involve refusing to cover teacher absence and is focused instead on admin tasks aimed at only impacting on the department.

In his letter to parents, St Ninian’s High School head teacher Chris Coole said the NASUWT action may have an impact on the school.

He said as a last resort to make sure all students are supervised, he may have to place mixed year and subject groups in the school hall for a lesson.

Meanwhile, the Education Union of Mann said it asked its members for their views and there was unanimous opposition to seeking or supporting industrial action.

The union currently has 40 members.

They expressed concern that such a move would affect the educational experience and overall well-being of pupils. The union said its senior school leader members felt misrepresented in statements to the media which suggest all heads supported industrial action. It said it was looking to a ’new and positive’ relationship with the department.