Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Rothwell Junior School will be taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow over bullying and intimidation by school management.
Members are suffering from stress, anxiety and burnout as a result of a culture of unreasonable demands and excessive workload and monitoring.
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“Our members describe a culture of fear at the school which is impacting on workload, as well as staff wellbeing.
“The imposition of arbitrary performance targets is placing unrealistic pressures onto teaching staff and compromising their ability to support pupils' learning.
“Bullying employer behaviour cannot be allowed to continue. It is bad for teacher morale and undermines the ability of teachers to teach.
“We urge the employer to recognise the seriousness of the situation and to take the steps needed to resolve this dispute and re-establish professional, accountable and respectful management of the school.”
Alan Hackett, NASUWT National Executive Member for Northamptonshire, said:
“The employer is failing in its duty of care to staff. It has had numerous opportunities to act to address the long-running management problems at the school but has failed to do so.
“Members now feel that they have no choice but to take strike action in a bid to bring about much needed positive change at the school.
“Our members should not need to fight for their right to be treated with dignity at work. That it has come to this is a reflection of how badly staff have been let down by the people who are employed to lead and support them.”
