A TEACHER'S union paused strike action at a prestigious school in the Lake District the evening before it was due to go ahead. 

Just before 8pm on Tuesday night, the National Education Union (NEU) announced strike action due for Wednesday was 'paused' awaiting an offer from Windermere School. 

Members of the NEU and NASUWT - The Teachers' Union at Windermere and Elleray Independent Schools had voted for strike action on Wednesday April 17, April 24-25 and May 1-2. The NEU said the teachers are entering into a dispute over the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). 

From April employer contributions on the TPS will increase to 28.68 per cent, which a spokesperson from Windermere School said prompted them to review other schemes. 

The NEU claims that teachers have been given the offer to stay in the TPS with a 19 per cent employer contribution and the staff pay the remaining 9.68 per cent from September, making a 'huge pay cut,' or join a 'less favourable' scheme with an employer contribution of 18 per cent. The NEU calls provision of the TPS an 'industry standard.' 

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Regional secretary of the NEU Beth Farhat said before it was called off: "Teachers always take strike action with a heavy heart, which is why this mandate should give the employer reason to pause. Members are angry and determined to defend what is rightfully theirs. Their pensions and their futures. These are committed and hard-working staff who have been pushed to the point of taking action. Teachers’ strength of feeling is unwavering.”

The school charges £40,815 a year for tuition and full boarding for year 12 students.

A spokesperson from the school said that it was, like all independent schools, facing 'significant rising costs and possible imposition of VAT on school fees.' 

They said the decision was prompted by TPS contributions 'significantly increasing' this month by five per cent, which over one third of other independent schools are also moving away from.

Bethany O'Flaherty, from the school, said: "Working with an independent pensions advisory firm, we have ensured an appropriate and affordable alternative pension provision.

"This consultation is still in progress. A number of our teaching staff are in the NASUWT and the NEU teaching unions and we have been notified by these unions that they intend to take strike action. We appreciate that the decision to come out of the TPS is significant for staff and whilst we hope for a resolution, we have nonetheless prepared for potential strike action."