Teachers at primary schools are striking after violent pupils armed with knives left staff injured and scared, calling it a safety emergency
Teachers from two primary schools have begun strike action after crazy kids come to class armed with knives and kicks and bites to go with them.
Manchester primary school’s Lily Lane and Ravensfield have teachers on strike as they have been physically attacked and even some of the pupils are scared. As teachers explain there have been instances of pupils also being attacked, kicked and even spat at.
With both Lily Lane Primary School and Ravensfield Primary School a part of the Changing Lives Collaboration Trust (CLiC) the safety and wellbeing of the pupils and staff has become the ‘highest priority’ which is all the more emphasised by the announcement of the strike action.
The action is taking place now as a result of teachers who say they have been suffering high levels of stress and anxiety which are affecting their entire lives’.
National Executive Members for Greater Manchester, Rachel Knight and Jac Casson said: ‘Working conditions at these CLiC Trust schools are devastating the teachers. They are desperate for change. Alongside their physical injuries, teachers are suffering high levels of stress and anxiety which are affecting their entire lives.
‘All they want is to go to work in a safe environment and to be able to keep their pupils safe.’
Continuing that it was ‘disappointed’ to see the walkout ‘so soon after the ballot without adequate opportunity to respond to members’ concerns’.
The picket lines at the schools are open from the 7th-8th January from 8:45 but the schools have announced that they will remain open throughout the strike action.
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: ‘This strike represents an unprecedented event for our union: two primary schools from the same academy trust taking action over worryingly similar concerns. It is fair to say that this strike constitutes a declaration of emergency from the teachers. The health and safety of everyone at these schools is at risk.’
The teachers union have said that they stand with the strike action but did explain that a union vote saw an agreement to not accept a ‘collective conciliation’.
Strike action at Lily Lane Primary School and Ravensfield Primary School is planned for January 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22.
Jo Ashcroft, CEO of CLiC Trust said: ‘The safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff in all our schools is of the very highest priority to us and we work closely with every one of our schools to ensure they maintain the very highest safeguarding standards at all times.
‘We also support our schools to ensure the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs are fully met.
‘We completely respect the right of union members to take strike action where they believe it to be necessary, however it’s disappointing in this case that strike action is taking place so soon after the ballot without adequate opportunity to respond to members’ concerns, and despite the Trust having engaged ACAS to offer collective conciliation, which the union chose not to accept. We remain keen to work in partnership with the NASUWT to discuss their members’ concerns.
‘In the meantime arrangements are in place for both schools to remain open to all pupils during any strike action that ensues.’