Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Meadowside Primary School in Kettering will be taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over adverse management practices which are affecting teachers’ health and working conditions.
  
Teachers are facing excessive workload, a lack of transparency and effective communication and lack of career progression.

NASUWT teachers also began an ongoing programme of action short of strike action last Wednesday (29th October) under which they have withdrawn from specific non-teaching activities which they believe are driving up their workloads and distracting them from focusing on teaching and learning.

Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
 
“Trust and confidence in the school leadership is being seriously undermined as a result of the failure to address the significant concerns of staff about the way in which they are being managed.
 
“The teachers want to be able to focus on teaching and helping pupils achieve their best, but current expectations from school management are preventing them from doing this to their fullest.

“We continue to appeal to the employer to work with us to find an agreed way forward in which the professionalism and welfare of staff is recognised and respected. This will avoid further industrial action.”
 
Alan Hackett, NASUWT National Executive Member for Northamptonshire, said:
 
“We believe the employer is currently failing in its duty of care to staff and pupils at Meadowside. They have had numerous opportunities to act to address the management problems at the school but have failed to do so.
 
“Members now feel that they have no choice but to take strike action in order to stand up for their right to be treated as the skilled professionals they are.”