A THIRD round of strikes at a Forest school was called off after a compromise was agreed on the issue that had been the stumbling block.

Negotiations between the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the head of Wyedean School, Clive Pemberton, averted the strike which would have seen the Sedbury school closed to most pupils yesterday (Tuesday), today and tomorrow.

The key issues were 'learning walks' – observations of lessons – by senior managers which the union has said should only be conducted by the head and should not be recorded and determine the school's pay policy.

Mr Pemberton has said learning walks are a routine part of school management, are not unannounced and do not affect pay rises.

The agreement means there will be no learning walks before the start of the new academic year in September and the union will have an input into the pay policy.

Wendy Exton, the south-west regional member of the union's national executive, said: "Late on Friday we managed to agree with Wyedean that we would suspend strike action as they have committed to no more learning walks this academic year and for us as a union to have an input into the pay policy for the next academic year.

"This is good progress into forming a work-

able, supportive programme which is not onerous."