A student at Tewkesbury Academy revealed he has lost count of how many school days he has missed this year due to ongoing teacher strikes. Since early February, staff represented by the National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) have repeatedly walked out, citing safety concerns and inconsistent responses to student disruptions by school leadership.
The industrial action paused recently following the academy’s introduction of a revised behavioural policy—one of the unions’ primary demands. The policy aims to address issues like student misconduct, which staff say have included racist and misogynistic abuse and even “Nazi jokes” that reportedly went unchallenged.
Headteacher Kathleen McGillycuddy informed parents in a letter that while the behavioural policy has been adjusted, further changes are underway. These developments have led to a temporary pause in strikes as union members prepare for a new ballot next week.
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Yet, even with the new rules in place, some students still face difficulties. For example, a Year 10 pupil found himself penalized for briefly leaving class after the bell, despite having prior permission to use the restroom. He was stopped by a teacher upon return and issued a warning for tardiness. His mother criticized the strict enforcement, saying it was “focusing on entirely the wrong things.”
The student expressed frustration over how the late policy is being applied, noting even a minute’s delay results in penalties, which he believes undermines the policy’s goals.
The teenager also echoed concerns about safety, saying he has witnessed staff being put at risk by disruptive behavior, including incidents that escalated to assaults against teachers. While he supports the reasons behind the strikes, he admitted the protest has led to significant lesson disruptions. “I have spent more days out of school than in over the past two months,” he said.
His mother highlighted the added complications for families due to last-minute strike announcements, especially for parents of younger children who struggle to find care arrangements on short notice.
The school’s leadership remains hopeful that the updated behavioural policy—introduced at the unions' request—will create a safer and more consistent learning environment. McGillycuddy emphasized the need for time and cooperation to fully embed the new expectations, stating the policy aims to be applied with “kindness, compassion, clarity, and above all consistency.”
Despite recent progress, further strikes have been proposed for upcoming dates, as negotiations between the unions and the school continue.