Tewkesbury Academy has paused planned strike action as school leaders introduce a new behaviour policy aimed at addressing concerns over student conduct. Staff at the secondary school had previously raised alarms about “unsafe” working conditions, citing a rise in disruptive behaviour, racism, and misogyny, particularly directed at teachers.
Union representatives revealed that teachers felt overwhelmed by what they described as “a complete lack of control” within the school environment. This led to multiple days of strike action, which forced school closures.
In a letter sent to parents, headteacher Kathleen McGillycuddy confirmed the suspension of strikes while the school implements the updated disciplinary measures. The new policy includes 60-minute after-school detentions, mandatory de-escalation training for staff, and suspension for pupils who swear at adults.
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The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) spokesperson described progress as “positive” but noted that 12 strike days remain planned for March and April. Despite this, union members have overwhelmingly supported pausing strikes this week to monitor the school’s actions.
Michaela Wilde, NEU CLF Branch Secretary, highlighted ongoing constructive negotiations with the Cabot Learning Federation, which oversees Tewkesbury Academy. Union members are set to meet soon to evaluate the effectiveness of the new policy and determine if further industrial action is necessary.
The school expressed gratitude to parents for their “patience and support,” with hopes that colleagues will soon end strike action entirely. Previous reports from GloucestershireLive revealed troubling behaviour, including male student groups making offensive Nazi jokes and female teachers subjected to misogynistic abuse, underscoring the seriousness of the issues the new policy aims to resolve.