Created on: 22 Dec 2025
Members of the EIS at Craigclowan School near Perth will take six further days of strike action in January, as a dispute over cuts to the staff pension scheme continues.
The strike action is in opposition to the school’s use of ‘fire and rehire’ to force staff out of the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS) and into a worse scheme that will cost less for the school.
The School pays its teaching staff considerably less than staff in state schools - around 15% less as of December 2025. The teachers work tirelessly for the School and have been reluctant to strike. Ultimately, the school’s decision to cut its employer pension contributions from 26% to 14% meant that many staff felt that they had no choice but to defend their financial security.
The school has been making savings in order to minimise fee increases. Fees have risen less than inflation and the VAT added in 2025. The school is effectively forcing teachers to take pension cuts - a cheaper, inferior pension - so that the school can use the savings from employer pension contributions to keep student fees down.
To add salt to the wound, the School is being less than straightforward about the fact that Glenalmond College, which has operational control of Craigclowan School, accounts state it is still contributing to a superior defined benefit scheme for some senior staff. The EIS has been seeking clarification as to whether some senior staff within the Glenalmond group will retain their existing pension provision while lower-paid teaching staff at Craigclowan will see their pensions cut as a consequence of the move to a new, inferior, pension scheme. The school has confirmed that “There are currently two non-teacher employees in the DB ISPS scheme” but has not responded to further queries and has not denied to the EIS that these two staff are still accruing benefits in the defined benefit scheme.
The Glenalmond Group accounts also indicate an annual payment of an extra £107,000 per year into the pension scheme covering those senior staff to address a current funding deficit. This figure is roughly the equivalent to the annual savings which will be achieved by moving Craigclowan teachers onto an inferior pension scheme.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Teachers at Craigclowan school are already amongst the lowest paid of any school in Scotland, in either the independent or state sectors. Now, management is coming after their pensions and looking to make cuts, which will leave Craigclowan teachers worse off in their retirement too. This is no way to treat loyal and dedicated teaching staff.”
Ms Bradley added, “It is wrong for Craigclowan School to cut its teachers’ pensions to keep pupil fees lower – teachers are effectively being forced to subsidise the school fees paid by parents by sacrificing part of their pensions.”
Ms Bradley added, “The EIS has also been seeking clarity on how some senior staff within the school group will retain their membership of a more generous pension scheme, while class teachers on lower salaries will be forced onto an inferior scheme. The additional annual payment into that senior staff pension scheme is almost the equivalent to the amount of money that will be saved by moving class teachers onto the inferior scheme. This is certainly raising legitimate questions as to whether senior staff having their pensions protected, while class teachers see their pensions cut.”
The EIS has repeatedly invited Craigclowan School management to engage in meaningful discussions to resolve the dispute. The EIS understands that the School has advised parents that it is engaging with the EIS. To date, the School has not entered into any negotiations with the EIS. After the first day of strike action, the School stated that it “will not negotiate directly with the EIS” to resolve the dispute. The School does not recognise trade unions.
Whilst senior management staff in the Glenalmond Group appear to be well paid, the teachers of Craigclowan School are paid significantly less than teachers in the state school sector, for example, the state primary school just down the road.
Andrea Bradley EIS General Secretary has recorded audio for use on radio.
Scheduled January strike dates at Craigclowan school:
• January 12 and 13, 2026
• January 21 and 22, 2026
• January 27 and 28, 2026
Notes
• A first day of strike action was taken on 26th November, with two further days of strike action taken on 8th and 9th December.
• An experienced unpromoted teacher at Craigclowan School is paid about 15% less than an experienced unpromoted teacher in a state primary school.
• Independent Schools have historically put their teaching staff into the STPS pension scheme. Teaching is a single profession in Scotland, with common GTCS registration required. Some Independent Schools seem to be looking for ways to cut costs, and have started to pull teachers out of the STPS scheme as it is more expensive for employers than private direct contribution schemes. The EIS will support members to fight against any dilution of their pensions, especially where the School is looking to use pension cuts to effectively subsidise pupil fees.
• Pages 34-37 of the Glenalmond College (2024) Accounts sets out the financial position in relation to pension provision at the school.