Teachers at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire have been on strike regularly for over a month, as tensions rise over allegations that some pupils are bullying staff. School leaders have expressed disappointment that additional strike days are planned despite attempts at resolution.
Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Education Union (NEU) are striking on March 5-6, with further strikes scheduled for March 11-13. Staff report experiencing racist and misogynistic abuse from a minority of students. One pupil also claimed classmates made unaddressed Nazi jokes, highlighting wider behavioural issues.
In a letter to parents, school leaders acknowledged the unions’ concerns, which include behaviour policy enforcement, pastoral team capacity, and staff workload. Headteacher Kathleen McGillyCuddy noted that many issues had been previously discussed and initial positive steps had been taken. However, as negotiations continued, new demands emerged, including a fresh focus on bullying and intimidation that had not been formally raised before.
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The school has agreed to meet 10 of the 11 key requests and remains in dialogue over the final point. Meanwhile, some senior leaders have also reported facing difficult behaviour from students. The academy’s priority now is to rebuild trust and improve relationships among staff, students, and management.
A Tewkesbury Academy teacher told GloucestershireLive that behaviour problems largely stem from a small but vocal minority of students who feel rules do not apply to them. This ongoing disruption is linked to insufficient staffing levels, with departing staff not replaced, leaving pupils without the support they need. The teacher also highlighted inconsistent application of the behaviour policy and a growing sense among staff that their concerns are ignored, resulting in diminished trust and a reluctance to raise formal grievances.
The strike action which began in early February underscores deeply rooted challenges at the school related to behaviour management and staff welfare, with the dispute continuing into March.