TEACHERS went on strike at a Barnsley school this week with more walk-outs planned after talks between union officials and the school’s management broke down.
National Education Union members voted to take industrial action over alleged unreasonable management practices at St Helen’s Primary at Monk Bretton, which is an academy run by Academies Enterprise Trust (AET).
The union is calling for the reinstatement of a suspended member of staff, a review of a change which saw traditional school governors replaced with staff employed by AET, and a full independent review of concerns raised by staff about oppressive management practices and working conditions.
Both AET and the union last week said they hoped strike action could be avoided and that talks would continue to achieve a resolution.
But no resolution was achieved and dozens of staff, parents and other supporters formed a picket line outside the closed school on Wednesday morning.
Nicola Fitzpatrick, Barnsley division secretary for the NEU, paid tribute to the staff for standing up to AET having previously been too afraid to engage with their union over their concerns.
“There has been a culture of fear and bullying at this school,” she said.
“Just before Christmas they were too scared to come to a union meeting. Only three attended.
“Those that did attend were then pulled out of class and were questioned about it and what they had talked about.
“AET has had a significant change in governance. They’ve moved away from traditional governors, democratically elected people, and replaced them with paid AET staff.
“If governors are the people teachers should turn to if they think things aren’t right in school, how can they if they’re the same people who have made them feel the way they do?”
The union’s three demands are a review of these new governance arrangements, reinstatement of suspended member of staff, and a full investigation of concerns raised by staff.
Nicola added: “We’ve held talks, but they’ve not moved, basically. They have said they will investigate, but haven’t guaranteed the investigation will be independent. We balloted members in February and got the result on March 6. They’ve had plenty of time.
“Staff want a happy school with strong leadership that can take it forward. That’s what they deserve, that’s what the children deserve and we don’t think that’s unreasonable.”
NEU national president Louise Regan joined the picket line on Wednesday and told staff they had the union’s full support.
“The fact that staff and parents are feeling they’re not being supported and the school is so unhappy is really very worrying,” she told the Chronicle.
“Staff work extremely hard in our schools and management should be supporting them.
“Our members do not take strike action lightly. It’s always a last resort. They have tried to resolve issues but unsuccessfully.
“The fact that is has come to this indicates just how bad it is.”
Many parents were on the picket line in support of the teachers. About 70 had attended a meeting at West Green WMC on Thursday night and were seemingly unanimous in their support.
Stephanie Perry, 27, of Morton Close, Monk Bretton, said: “I back these teachers 100 per cent. If it wasn’t for them, my child would simply not be going to that school.”
A spokesman for AET said: “We continue to engage in constructive discussions with the unions so that further strike action can be avoided. “Over the past few weeks, some parents have raised concerns with us which we are addressing.
“However, we also note that a significant number of parents have also been in contact with us directly to express their concern at the action that the campaigning group is taking and to stress they are not part of this group.”
More strike days are due to be held after the Easter holidays, on April 10 and 11.
