Bargoed teachers strike (From Campaign Series)

Bargoed teachers strike

4:04pm Tuesday 17th July 2012 in Campaign news By Charles Booth

THIRTY-FOUR teachers at Heolddu Comprehensive School staged a strike yesterday in protest, they say at the management of the school.

The members of NASUWT, the largest teachers' union in Wales say they were forced into such drastic action because of alleged delays in dealing with the problems in the school by the local education authority and the school's governing body. The 34 teachers eqaute to 90 percent of the qualified teachers at the school in Bargoed.

NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates said strike action was always a last resort but added: " Our members have been forced to take action.

"The prevarication of the governing body and the local authority must stop.

"The teachers regret any disruption that will result from their action but they have been left with no choice."

Rex Phillips, NASUWT Wales Organiser, said: "The situation at Heolddu Comprehensive School has gone on far too long.

"Initially, the NASUWT sought the support of the governing body to tackle the problems but nothing changed.

"Caerphilly education authority launched an independent investigation towards the end of last year and NASUWT members gave up their time to raise their concerns directly with the investigators."

 

A spokesman for Caerphilly Local Education Authority said: "We are obviously disappointed that today's strike action went ahead, but we will continue to work with the union and all associated parties including the headteacher Phillip Jones and the governing body in an effort to resolve the issues at the school. Our main priority is the interests of the pupils at Heolddu and appropriate resources were in place today to allow the school to remain open."