Staff at The Deepings School will strike for two days on October 1 and 2
School staff are going on strike as a result of bad pupil behaviour and excessive workloads.
Teachers and support staff will form a picket line outside The Deepings School on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The school will remain open for all pupils.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) are taking strike action following a string of complaints about how the school is run.
Last year the unions raised significant concerns about pupil behaviour, poor communication and excessive workloads which members feel have not been addressed.
In particular they say the promises to consult on changes to working practices and increase support for behaviour have not been acted on.
Secretary for the Lincolnshire NEU, Ken Rustidge, said: “It’s a sad state of affairs that this academy chain from Reading has not fulfilled its part of the agreement reached before the summer holidays to consult with our members before making changes, forcing us into industrial action. I do hope a resolution can be found soon in the interests of all parties.”
Regional officer for the NEU East Midlands, Gareth Jones, added: “It’s a real shame that we’ve not been able to resolve the issues. Education staff only take strike action as a last resort, as evidenced by our members’ willingness to call off action in the summer when it was hoped that we’d reached a resolution.
“It’s imperative that the leadership of the multi-academy trust returns to the negotiating table with a willingness to genuinely address members’ concerns and make the positive changes that are desperately needed for staff and students alike.”
The two unions represent the majority of teachers and a significant number of support staff at The Deepings School, which axed its sixth form intake this year after only 10 pupils signed up to study there.
A spokesperson for Anthem Schools Trust said: “We have been informed by the NASUWT and the NEU that staff at The Deepings School will be taking strike action on Tuesday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 2.
“However, the school will remain open on those days to all year groups. All necessary measures are in place to support the learning of all students across the school, with adjustments made as necessary to limit any disruption to the school day.
“We understand the concerns of both the NEU and NASUWT and we continue to engage in constructive discussions with them.
“We remain fully committed to working with the unions and we are striving to find a resolution that supports both staff and the leadership team, while maintaining our focus on raising educational standards for our students.
“Our top priority at The Deepings is to continue to give our students a high standard of education and prepare them for the next stage in their lives and this is why we will be keeping the school open.”
