Winterbourne teachers threaten walk-out over comments
- Published
Up to six days of strike action is being proposed by two trade unions
The attitude of a school principal who called teachers "lazy and unprofessional" has led to the threat of strike action, two unions have said.
Winterbourne International Academy teachers have apparently been "blamed entirely" for failures at the school.
Up to six days of strike action will take place later this month if a dispute is not resolved.
The school said it had not received formal notification of strike action from any union.
A spokesman for Winterbourne International Academy (WIA) said: "There have been questions raised by parents today.
"No member of the leadership team of The Ridings' Federation or WIA has received formal notification of strike action from any union.
"The leadership team of the Ridings' Federation and WIA remains focused on providing the very best education for every student in a Ridings' Federation School."
The action is being threatened by more than 100 members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT).
'Alienated teachers'
Ofsted inspectors judged the school to be in need of improvement, external at the last inspection in April, following a previous 'Good' rating given three years ago.
In a joint statement, the two unions, said: "There has been a breakdown in relations between the large majority of teachers at the school and the new management of the Ridings Federation.
"The new chief executive principal, Ms Beverley Martin, has decided to place the entire blame on the teaching staff saying that '90 per cent are not meeting standards' and describing members of her staff as 'lazy and unprofessional' with a 'disregard for the requests of management'.
"Ms Martin has adopted a confrontational approach and alienated the very people whose efforts will turn the school around."
The unions added their members reject the accusation "that most of them are unprofessional and incapable of making improvements without being spoken to and treated like naughty children".
Unless the dispute is resolved and "good professional relationships" established, the union members have planned up to six days of strike action during September, starting on Thursday the 10th.