Prep school teachers to strike over 'worst teachers' pension scheme in Scotland'
The EIS teaching union
Teachers at one of Scotland’s foremost prep schools are to strike over a “despicable” fire-and-rehire scheme they claim forces them to give up their existing pension scheme.
The EIS union said teaching staff at Craigclowan will be left with “the worst teachers' pension scheme in any school in Scotland" following the change.
Staff at the fee-paying school are already paid 15 per cent less than state school primary teachers, according to Scotland’s largest teaching union.
The Perthshire school said it was undertaking “prudent financial management” following Labour’s introduction of VAT on independent school fees.
Craigclowan is owned by Glenalmond Group and is a subsidiary of Glenalmond College, which earlier this year accepted a large investment from a Qatari with links to the royal family.
The EIS said Glenalmond College teaching staff are also subject to the pension changes, but are not involved in the industrial action.
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said strike action was a last resort for teachers.
“But it is necessary at Craigclowan School because its teachers need to protect their pensions.,” she said. “Their long-term financial security is at serious risk, especially as they are already paid less than teachers in the state sector.”
Teachers plan to walk out on Wednesday, although the prep school does not formally recognise the union.
Craigclowan School has used ‘fire and rehire’ letters to force its teachers to give up their occupational teachers' pension scheme [the STPS] and instead join a cheaper private pension scheme from January 2026, the union said.
The school has not increased fees following the VAT changes introduced in the previous UK Budget, with the EIS saying management aims to use cuts to teachers' pensions and real-term pay to subsidise pupils’ fees. The union called this “unacceptable”.
In a briefing, the school said it had, like all independent schools, been looking for areas to control costs at a “challenging time” for the sector. The employer contribution rate for the STPS stands at 26 per cent, up from 14 per cent in 2015 with further rises expected.
Craigclowan said it had undertaken a “rigorous” consultation process with teaching staff on pensions and new contracts were signed as a result. The pension for Craigclowan teachers, who are all GTCS registered, is 14 per cent.
The school said the EIS industrial ballot result was “far from overwhelming”.
Dougal Lyon, the school’s headmaster, said: “It is unfortunate that a small number of our teaching staff have decided to take this action, but pleased that all school lessons on the timetable are going ahead as planned.
“Pupil numbers are strong, and whilst the school hugely values its staff, who are outstanding at what they do, it would be irresponsible not to take steps to manage costs to enable us to continue to grow and provide an outstanding education for our children.”
Ms Bradley added: “Craigclowan School has put an unacceptable amount of pressure on its teachers to force through an inferior pension, including the despicable act of using ‘fire and rehire’ – a practice that will largely be outlawed when the UK Employment Rights Bill is approved.
“It is wrong for Craigclowan School to expect teachers to effectively subsidise pupil fees by sacrificing the quality of teacher pensions or pay. The EIS will continue to support members placed in such a difficult position.”
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