On Thursday 12th December, members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, at Ysgol Nantgwyn, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Ysgol Abersychan in Pontypool will take strike action over poor pupil behaviour and will be taking their protest to the steps of the Senedd.

At 11am on Thursday, striking members from both schools will gather in front of the Senedd to express their concern over the lack of progress on this crucial issue.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, said:

“NASUWT members have simply had enough of enduring a situation where employers are not taking seriously the impact of violent and abusive pupil behaviour on teachers’ health and wellbeing.

“There is increasing evidence of a behaviour crisis which is resulting in the union being called on to support more protective disputes in schools across Wales.

“No teacher should have to endure violence and abuse at work, and the NASUWT will always support our members when their employers fail to do so.”

Neil Butler, National Official for Wales, said:

“Both Nantgwyn and Abersychan are examples of teachers losing patience with the employer as they have failed in their duty of care. They have turned to their Union to seek to protect them from verbal and physical abuse in the workplace because their employer is failing to do so.

“It is also now a wider issue than this. It exists in Wales and beyond and we need the Welsh Government to step up.

“We welcome the news of a Behaviour Summit from the Welsh Government but we need this sooner rather than later and so far we have had no details.

“There is a need to go back to basics in Wales with regards to Learner Behaviour and all stakeholders need to be on board with that. The Learner Behaviour Summit led by the Welsh Government must instil a new and robust ethos of positive behaviour management across education in Wales.”