Sudbury St Joseph's primary school teacher strike continues

Staff at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Sudbury, who are members of the National Education Union (NEU), continued their strike action on Thursday and will walk out again today.

The union said staff had "taken steps to resolve the dispute" with a list of resolutions, and that the chair of governors was first made aware of the issues in October last year. 

An independent investigation has now begun, the school's chair of governors has said, and further talks are planned with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) for Thursday, March 28. 

On the picket line on Thursday, Paul McLaughlin, regional secretary at the NEU, said: "The primary issue really is around what we have called 'unacceptable management practices'. These are bordering on intimidation, excessive monitoring, and other types of behaviours that we would see as inappropriate.

"The dispute is also around issues of workload, where we have management practices here which are causing additional burdens for teachers and support staff, adding unnecessary tasks, which is effectively getting in the way of the teaching and learning that the pupils deserve." 

A teacher said: "I think exhaustion is probably one of the key things.

"We'd rather be in there than out here but the working conditions are really affecting staff's mental wellbeing which is then spilling across into other aspects of life aside from work.

"It's a really tricky place at the moment I think." 

Teachers said their mental wellbeing has been impacted (Image: Newsquest)

Several parents attended the picket line on Thursday to support the striking staff members. 

A teacher said: "The parents know that we are working towards the best for their children and that we are in this unfortunate situation that is very easily resolved, but unfortunately the communication currently isn't taking place between our senior leadership team and the union." 

A parent at the protest said: "I know some of the teachers very well and I know that there is no way on this earth that they would jeopardise my child's future or education without there being a just cause for it.

"It really saddens me to see the teachers outside the front of the school - it shouldn't have come to this.

"The motto of the school is 'encourage and support' and I feel that the fact the teachers feel they have no other option but to strike shows that motto isn't being reflected for the teachers."

Teachers at St Joseph's were also on strike last week, on Tuesday March 12. 

The union said it gave two weeks' notice of that strike to the school, but parents and guardians were made aware the previous Friday at 7pm.

Mr McLaughlin said further action will be taken in the future if changes are not made. 

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School was rated 'Good' by Ofsted in 2023 and 2017. 

Back in 2013 and 2015 the school was rated 'requires improvement' from Ofsted.

Last week, Dr Christopher Oldroyd, chair of governors at The Federation of St Edmund's & St Joseph's Catholic Primary Schools, which also runs St Edmund's Catholic Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, said: “The school regrets the decision of the staff to go on strike and apologises for the inconvenience to families.

"We have held talks with the staff’s union representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks including on the February 16 and again on the March 7 with the assistance of ACAS, in an effort to avert the strike action.

“An independent investigation has been commissioned to look into the issues and concerns raised by staff and the school leadership has offered a number of ways in which to address concerns about workload.

"The school remains keen to resolve the issues of concern to the staff and their union." 

A Diocese of East Anglia spokesperson said: "The school regrets the decision of the staff to go on strike and apologises for the inconvenience to families.

"The school has held talks with the staff’s union representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks including on the 16th Feb and again on the 7th March in an effort to avert the strike action.

"An independent investigation has been commissioned to look into the issues and concerns raised by staff and the school leadership has offered a number of ways in which to address concerns about workload.

"The school remains keen to resolve the issues of concern to the staff and their union."