Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough are taking five days of strike action, beginning on Friday, over financial failings which are threatening jobs and undermining educational provision for pupils.
Information provided to NASUWT members by the Atomix Educational Trust, which runs the college, has failed to provide the necessary transparency or reassurances about the financial position of the college and the future impact on the workforce. Therefore, members have had no choice but to move to strike action.
Until three years ago the College was in a strong financial position and had robust student recruitment and retention. Now student numbers are declining and buildings are in a poor state of repair to the extent that some classrooms are out of action. Meanwhile, the number of staff on salaries above £60,000 nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 from 10 to 19, while restructuring resulted in job cuts in frontline roles. Further restructuring with the threat of redundancies is being proposed.
NASUWT teachers will take strike action on 13th 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th November. Members will be picketing outside the school on each strike day between approximately 8am and 9.15am.
Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“We have serious concerns about the financial management of the College. Frontline staff and pupils are paying the price of poor decision making by senior trust leaders through cuts to jobs and a declining environment in which to learn and teach.
“Academy trusts are in receipt of public money and it is vital that funding is being focused on where it is most needed – in the classroom. We will continue to take action where trusts are failing in their duty to pupils, parents and the education workforce.”
Mark Simon, NASUWT National Executive Member for Cleveland, said:
“To move forward, members need to have confidence that the Trust can demonstrate effective financial stewardship of the College. At present this reassurance is lacking.
“These failings are undermining the College’s core purpose of delivering high-quality education and positive outcomes for the young people and adults it serves. Our members cannot stand by and allow this situation to continue.
“We remain ready and open to further negotiations with the Trust and to finding a resolution which returns the College to financial, organisational and educational health and success.”
