Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Haydon Bridge High School in Hexham will be taking the first of 12 planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over the continuing failure of school management to put in place an effective pupil behaviour management system.
NASUWT teachers at Haydon Bridge took strike action in December over a lack of action to deal with poor pupil behaviour. Further action was suspended to allow school management to implement a new behaviour policy and measures to tackle disruptive behaviour. However, several months on and there has been no improvement, leaving NASUWT with no choice than to take further strike action.
NASUWT teachers will take strike action on 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st March and 1st, 2nd, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th and 30th April. NASUWT will be picketing outside the school tomorrow (Tuesday 24th) and on April 1st between approximately 8am and 8.45am.
This action excludes year 10, 11 and 13 examination classes. NASUWT members will attend work and teach these lessons only.
Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“We have given school management ample time to put in place a behaviour management policy that protects staff and upholds the right of pupils to learn free from disruption.
“Management have made the choice to ignore the reasonable expectations of their own staff and have therefore made further strike action unavoidable.
“Management are mistaken if they believe they can continue to avoid their responsibilities to staff and pupils without any repercussions. Members are determined to stand up for their right to teach free from abuse and disorder.”
Julie Parkin, NASUWT National Executive Member for Northumberland, said:
“NASUWT and its members have been raising concerns over the last 18 months regarding pupil behaviour at Haydon Bridge. Leaders at the school have not acted effectively to address these concerns, and as a result, there are too many occasions where teaching and learning is disrupted by poor behaviour.
“Despite strike action by NASUWT members late last year, leaders have still not made improvements to the management of behaviour. As a result, teachers have voted to take further action in regards to the management of both behaviour and the wider running of the school. Members rightly have the students’ interest at heart, and will continue to teach examination classes during strike action.
“The longer school leaders at Haydon Bridge continue to ignore problems with pupil behaviour, the more stressed and anxious the teachers become. It is imperative now that leaders and governors engage with NASUWT further to ensure that Haydon Bridge can be a consistently safe, calm and effective learning environment.”
