Staff at Westonbirt School, a well-known private institution near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, are preparing to take six days of strike action following claims of a “culture of fear” within the school.
Representatives from the teachers' union say some staff feel they have been left with “no choice” but to strike due to how the school is being managed. According to union sources, several teachers have left the school this year amid worries about the approach of the new leadership team.
The school educates over 700 pupils and has featured as a key filming location for the final series of the Netflix show Sex Education.
READ MORE: Royal Mail addresses post delay concerns in Gloucestershire
READ MORE: Fuel prices at Gloucester Services nearly £20 higher than nearby Asda
Concerns raised include staff feeling blamed and sidelined, difficulties managing increased workloads, and challenges with rising pupil numbers. The strike dates are scheduled for October 14 and then November 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, although it remains unclear how many teachers will participate.
Wendy Exton, a national executive member of the NASUWT union for Gloucestershire, stated: “Teachers at Westonbirt have been left with no other option than to move to strike action, following the ongoing failure of school management to act on their numerous and serious concerns about the way in which they are being managed.
“School leadership has created a culture of fear among staff where they feel blamed, sidelined, and left in the dark about day to day decision making. Changes to working conditions have been unilaterally imposed, often with just a day’s notice, increases in pupil numbers have not been safely managed, and workloads have become unsustainable.
“This is all adversely affecting not just teachers, but also pupils’ learning environment. We have repeatedly tried to negotiate with management over these issues, but they have failed to engage constructively with us.
“As a result, we have no choice but to declare a programme of strike action. School management have an opportunity to avert this action if they can show they are serious about working with us to meaningfully address these issues.”
Westonbirt School declined to comment when approached for a response. The Wishford Education Group, which oversees the school, was also contacted but has not made a statement.
In December, the school website paid tribute to the outgoing headmistress Natasha Dangerfield, recognising her “dedication and warmth for the past thirteen years” and her “support and kindness given to the Westonbirt community”.
Westonbirt is regularly featured in Tatler’s Good Schools Guide and is ranked among the top schools in Gloucestershire. Its most recent report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2023 praised the leadership at that time for promoting a “culture of mutual respect”.
Fans of the Netflix series Sex Education will recognise Westonbirt as the fictional Wallace University, with the location noted for its resemblance to Ivy League colleges.