Teachers strike at Dukinfield primary over concerns about pupil violence

Teachers at a Dukinfield primary school have began strike action earlier this week, amid claims that pupil violence has reached “untenable levels,” with staff warning that safety concerns are being ignored.

Staff at Ravensfield Primary School, alongside colleagues at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester, walked out on Tuesday 6th January in protest over what their union describes as a growing “culture of violence” within the schools.

According to NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union, incidents at Ravensfield Primary School have included pupils bringing knives onto the school site, throwing furniture, and physically assaulting staff. The union claims pupils have been known to bite, kick, hit and spit at teachers and support staff.

NASUWT also alleges that levels of aggression have led to the school going into lockdown on occasion, with fire doors locked after pupils climbed balconies and moved around the site unsupervised.

The union says staff have raised concerns repeatedly but feel insufficient action has been taken, leaving both staff and pupils feeling unsafe. It claims some children have become fearful of attending school as a result of the behaviour they are witnessing.

Strike action is set to continue on 13, 14 and 15 January, followed by further walkouts on 20, 21 and 22 January.

Ravensfield Primary School is part of the Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust, which also manages Lily Lane Primary School. NASUWT has stated that assaults on staff and pupils at Lily Lane have become “almost daily,” though the union says conditions at both schools have prompted the joint action.

Jo Ashcroft, CLiC trust's chief executive, said:  "The safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff in all our schools is of the very highest priority to us and we work closely with every one of our schools to ensure they maintain the very highest safeguarding standards at all times. 

"We also support our schools to ensure the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs are fully met.

"We completely respect the right of union members to take strike action where they believe it to be necessary, however it's disappointing in this case that strike action is taking place so soon after the ballot without adequate opportunity to respond to members' concerns, and despite the Trust having engaged ACAS to offer collective conciliation, which the union chose not to accept. We remain keen to work in partnership with the NASUWT to discuss their members’ concerns.

"In the meantime arrangements are in place for both schools to remain open to all pupils during any strike action that ensues."

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.

“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.”

Parents have been advised to check directly with the school regarding arrangements during the strike days.

Ravensfield Primary, Clarendon Street, Dukinfield. Credit: Google Maps