Teachers at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire have resumed strike action, citing persistent issues with racist and misogynistic abuse from a number of male students. Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Education Union (NEU) are striking on March 5-6 as part of ongoing negotiations with school leadership.
The academy’s headteacher, Kathleen McGillycuddy, expressed disappointment at the continued strikes in a letter to parents, emphasizing that the school has put forward a clear offer intended to meet all union demands. The letter detailed arrangements for remote learning for most students, with Year 8 attending in-person on March 5 and Year 11 on March 6. The school also remains open to provide support for vulnerable students.
Additional strike days are planned for March 11-13.
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Teachers report confronting verbal abuse, threats of violence, and disruptive behavior from a small but disruptive group of pupils. One teacher highlighted issues stemming from inconsistent enforcement of behavior policies and understaffing, which they say contributes to a lack of support and unresolved grievances among staff.
A student at the school shared concerns about disrupted learning and witnessing offensive behavior, including racist ‘Nazi’ jokes and misogynistic treatment of female teachers by groups of male students. The student described the environment as “shocking” and criticized the school’s behavior policies.
Tewkesbury Academy responded by stating it was unaware of the specific incident but reiterated the existence of clear procedures to address such concerns. The school noted that all parties have previously spoken against misinformation regarding these issues.