Teachers at two Manchester primary schools strike over safety fears

Teachers at two Greater Manchester primary schools are due to begin strike action today (6 January) over what their union describes as serious and unresolved safety concerns.Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester and Ravensfield Primary School in Tameside said incidents of pupil-on-teacher and pupil-on-pupil violence have increased to “untenable” levels.

Both schools are part of the Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust.

The union said school leaders had failed to address urgent issues relating to health and safety, safeguarding, and staff wellbeing. It added that, in some cases, the situation had left pupils fearful of attending school.

At Lily Lane Primary School, NASUWT said assaults involving staff and pupils were occurring almost daily, while leaders were failing to apply an effective and consistent behaviour policy. The union also said teachers’ concerns about pupils with highly complex special educational needs were being ignored.

According to NASUWT, staff at the school have been left without adequate support to manage high levels of aggression from pupils. It also alleged that some teachers who raised concerns had faced adverse management practices, including suspension and the non-renewal of contracts.

At Ravensfield Primary School, the union reported incidents in which pupils had bitten, kicked, hit and spat at staff, as well as throwing furniture and bringing knives onto the school site. It said aggressive behaviour had, on occasion, led to classes being placed in lockdown.

NASUWT also raised concerns about supervision at Ravensfield, alleging that pupils had climbed balconies and moved around the school unsupervised during lesson time. It said leadership responses had included locking fire doors rather than addressing the underlying risks.

The union said no adequate risk assessments or policies were in place at Ravensfield to protect staff and pupils, and that teachers remained unsupported when dealing with aggressive or threatening behaviour.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “This strike represents an unprecedented event for our union: two primary schools from the same academy trust taking action over worryingly similar concerns. It is fair to say that this strike constitutes a declaration of emergency from the teachers. The health and safety of everyone at these schools is at risk.

“A safe environment is the only way teachers can teach and pupils can learn. Not only are school and trust leaders failing in their basic duty of care to provide this environment, but they have gone as far as to intimidate and punish staff who report concerns. This cannot continue.” 

Rachel Knight and Jac Casson, national executive members for Greater Manchester, said: “Working conditions at these CLiC Trust schools are devastating the teachers. They are desperate for change.

“Alongside their physical injuries, teachers are suffering high levels of stress and anxiety which are affecting their entire lives. All they want is to go to work in a safe environment and to be able to keep their pupils safe. Instead, they are subjected to contempt and negligence from leaders.”  

They added: “We have raised complex concerns with the chair of trustees at CLiC. Leaders have known about strike action for a month but have failed to engage in good faith or to make urgently needed improvements. Our teachers have taken the brave and necessary step of saying: no more.”