Teachers at Tewkesbury Academy have expressed deep frustration and a loss of trust in the school’s senior leadership as strike action continues over concerns about pupil behaviour and inadequate support. Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Education Union (NEU) remain on strike, demanding better measures to address disruptive and abusive conduct by a small but vocal minority of students.
One anonymous teacher revealed that on difficult days, up to 70 students cause disruptions, with a core group of around 20 pupils repeatedly undermining lessons across different year groups. Staff say the school’s behaviour management system is inconsistently applied, leaving teachers feeling unsupported as they handle bullying and intimidation, particularly targeting female staff members.
Strikes began in early February and have continued through several days, with nine more strike days planned through March. The teacher described the toll of lost teaching time—nearly 30 hours so far—and growing disillusionment with what they perceive as empty promises from leadership. “People have given up on raising formal grievances because they feel bullied and ignored,” the teacher said.
READ MORE: Young Woman Sexually Assaulted in Gloucester by Known Male
READ MORE: ‘So happy’ - Cheltenham’s Maisie Hill takes positives from Olympic debut
According to this staff member, the root issues include insufficient staffing and a failure by senior management to enforce behavioural policies effectively. They believe that inadequate response to the problematic behaviours is aggravating the situation and impacting the wider student body who deserve a better learning environment.
Despite the disruption, many students have expressed strong support for their teachers throughout the industrial action. One Year 11 pupil publicly condemned the school over incidents of racism, misogyny, and bullying, describing some female staff as visibly distressed by harassment from male pupils. The same student also alleged the headteacher tried to turn students against striking teachers, claims which the school has firmly denied.
Tewkesbury Academy has stated it offers comprehensive lessons and workshops on discrimination and online safety, and that it has received no reports confirming the allegations aired by the unions. The school reiterated its commitment to addressing behaviour concerns and continuing negotiations in good faith.
A spokesperson said: “While we regret the decision to strike despite the progress made in discussions, we remain dedicated to working collaboratively to minimize disruption and ensure every child has access to quality education.”