By Owen Hughes
Copyright dailypost
A high school in North Wales will close for a day this week due to strike action – amid claims of bullying that the council says were “not upheld”. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking action at Flint High School on Wednesday this week.
The union made claims over “bullying” by the headteacher and a failure to tackle what it described as “high levels of behavioural issues” at the school. The union claimed the “health, safety and wellbeing of the staff and pupils continue to be compromised”.
The school’s headteacher Claire Millington told parents “unfortunately” the action would mean the school would have to close that day. She warned of five other potential strike dates this month. She added they would engage “proactively and constructively” with the union to try to reach a resolution.
Flintshire Council said that grievances raised in relation to allegations of bullying were investigated but not upheld. They added that the school has also undertaken a “thorough review of its pastoral systems and behaviour management policies” and new initiatives have been put in place.
The headteacher has been approached via the school for comment
The union said: “NEU members at Flint High School will be taking strike action on Wednesday 10 September following concerns from staff due the employer’s failure to deal with bullying behaviour from the Headteacher and the inability of the school’s leadership to tackle high levels of behavioural issues.”
They added: “Members feel that the health, safety and wellbeing of the staff and pupils continue to be compromised.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Nicola Fitzpatrick, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union Cymru, claimed: ”Our members in Flint High School feel they have no choice but to take industrial action. No one takes the decision to go out on strike lightly, but by choosing to strike, our members are sending a clear message to the school that they will not tolerate threats to their own or the pupils’ health, safety and wellbeing, and that they deserve dignity in the workplace.
“The employer is failing to deal with the workplace bullying and the pupil behaviour and this is having a detrimental effect on learning. Over a period of nearly two years members have stood together and are demonstrating a level of collective solidarity which should inspire all workers to demand dignity in their workplace. Members striking today do so with the full backing of the wider union, the largest education trade union in Europe.
“Teachers cannot teach, and pupils cannot learn in an environment where there is this level of disruption, and our members will continue to take action until these issues have been dealt with appropriately.”
In response, Claire Homard, Chief Officer for Education and Youth, said: “The National Education Union (NEU) has announced that its members at Flint High School will be taking strike action on Wednesday and are considering a further five dates in September. The union has stated that this is in response to concerns raised about the headteacher and the handling of behavioural issues.
“I can confirm that due processes have been followed by the school Governors and that grievances raised in relation to allegations of bullying were not upheld. The school has also undertaken a thorough review of its pastoral systems and behaviour management policies, and new initiatives have been put in place. These are already showing a positive impact at the start of the new academic year.
“The headteacher, school leadership team and Flintshire County Council are committed to working constructively with the NEU to bring this action to an end as soon as possible to minimise disruption. Parents and carers have been informed of the closure on Wednesday and will be kept updated in relation to potential further strike dates.”
