Further strike days announced at Dukinfield primary school amid safety concerns

Teachers at a Dukinfield primary school have announced further strike action, extending their ongoing walkouts over what they describe as “untenable” levels of pupil violence and unresolved safety concerns.

Staff at Ravensfield Primary School, alongside colleagues at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester, are continuing strike action on Today, 21 January and Thursday 22 January, with additional walkouts confirmed for Tuesday 27 January through to Thursday 29 January.

The latest action follows an earlier series of strikes which began earlier this month, after members of NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union, claimed repeated warnings about serious incidents had been ignored.

According to the union, incidents at Ravensfield Primary School have included pupils bringing knives onto the school site, throwing furniture, and physically assaulting staff. Teachers and support staff have reportedly been bitten, kicked, hit and spat at, while the school has allegedly gone into lockdown on occasion due to aggressive behaviour, including pupils climbing balconies and moving around the site unsupervised.

NASUWT says the ongoing situation has left both staff and pupils feeling unsafe, with some children becoming fearful of attending school after witnessing violent behaviour.

Ravensfield Primary School is part of the Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust, which also runs Lily Lane Primary School. The union claims assaults at Lily Lane have become “almost daily,” prompting joint strike action across both schools.

Jo Ashcroft, chief executive of the CLiC Trust, previously said the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff is a top priority and that the trust works closely with schools to maintain safeguarding standards. She added that the trust supports schools to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs.

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT, described the action as an “unprecedented event” for the union, warning that the health and safety of staff and pupils remain at risk.

Rachel Knight and Jac Casson, NASUWT National Executive Members for Greater Manchester, said working conditions at the CLiC Trust schools were “devastating” teachers, with staff suffering high levels of stress and anxiety.

Parents have been advised to check directly with their child’s school for the latest information regarding opening arrangements during the strike days.