School strikes called off after head steps down

Strikes have been called off at a school after its head teacher stepped down and a new leadership team was brought in.

Members of the NASUWT union had previously taken industrial action over concerns about poor pupil behaviour and were set to walk out again this week.

But the union said it had cancelled strikes in April and May following the appointment of the new leadership team and positive discussions with school governors.

The new executive head teacher, Kath Pigdon, said she took the issue of pupil behaviour "very seriously" and would work with staff and the union to make improvements.

NASUWT's national executive member for Northumberland, Julie Parkin, said the union had agreed to attend regular meetings with the new head to discuss concerns around working time, cover, and the management of behaviour.

"We have taken the decision to withdraw industrial action in order to allow space for the new leadership team to develop positive relationships with staff, and to instigate immediate actions in order to improve working practices within the school, including the management of student behaviour," she said.

Teachers at the school had been set to strike from 21-23 and 28-30 April, and then again from 5-16 May. The union said it would resume the strikes if improvements were not made.

Haydon Bridge High School has experienced difficulties for more than a decade and was previously placed in special measures in 2014.

Conservative-led Northumberland County Council said interim measures would be put in place immediately following the latest Ofsted report.

As part of the changes, Pigdon was appointed interim executive head teacher at William Howard School and Haydon Bridge High School, while Richard O'Connor was made interim head of school.

"The concerns that staff have raised - particularly around pupil behaviour - are ones we take very seriously, and they are at the heart of the improvement work we have been asked to lead," Pigdon said.

"Our priority is to listen, to work collaboratively with staff and their union representatives, and to bring about the improvements that everyone wants to see."

The council has also proposed creating an interim executive board, which will be tasked with turning the school into an academy.

The school has the largest catchment area of any secondary school in England.

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