School dispute Teachers suspend strikes but future action possible
TEACHERS at Greatfield Park Primary School in Up Hatherley have called off further strike action this week.
The majority of them have been in dispute with head teacher David Scorer and went on strike on April 27 and on May 5 and 6.
They had also planned to strike on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. But the teachers’ union, the NASUWT, said some improvements and promises had been made and the strikes planned for this week would not happen.
Wendy Exton, a member of the union’s national executive, said: “Last week after discussions between representatives from Gloucestershire County Council and the NASUWT we felt able to postpone the course of strike action for this coming week.
“However, we will be issuing notice of potential strike action for the 23rd, 24th and 25th June 2021 which our members will undertake if their requirements for what needs to change with the leadership at Greatfield are not fully met.
“Members have suspended the action as we have seen some improvements and promises made, but we need to see these fully implemented and embedded hence the reason we have given notice for further action.”
She added: “Members do not want to undertake any further action and hope to see Greatfield develop and move forward with these changes.”
She said the teachers had taken strike action as a last resort because the school’s leadership regime had put in jeopardy their ability to make sure the children were safe and happy in their learning.
She added: “Teachers were ready to embrace change under new leadership but are concerned about the lack of strategic direction for the future of the school.
“Members have followed due process and taken legitimate concerns to the head teacher, governors and Gloucestershire Human Resources. These concerns were not dealt with effectively or in a timely manner, with some dating back to 18 months ago.
“No credible plan has been forthcoming to resolve the situation.
“The school currently has no chair of governors, vice chair of governors or safeguarding governor. This means that there is no local accountability for the head teacher.”
In an email to parents and carers, the school said it was pleased that this week’s strike would not happen.
It said: “The NASUWT have postponed action until the end of June to give chance for the actions to be implemented and evaluated.”
It added that it was unable to share details about what it called a “trade dispute”.
The school said: “It has been a regrettable situation, but we would like to thank you for your patience and understanding.”