Teachers at two Greater Manchester primary schools have gone on strike due to increasing pupil violence. Staff at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester and Ravensfield Primary School in Tameside began their strike on Tuesday. They claim their concerns about the violence were ignored by school leadership.
At Ravensfield Primary, violence escalated as pupils brought knives to school, threw furniture, and attacked staff by biting, kicking, and spitting. The school even had to go into lockdown after pupils climbed balconies and roamed unsupervised.
Daily Aggression and Physical Assaults on Teachers
At Lily Lane Primary, assaults on staff and students have become almost daily. Teachers have raised concerns about the lack of an effective behavior policy. They feel unsupported when facing aggression from students.
The NASUWT union also claims that teachers who reported these issues faced suspensions or had their contracts terminated. Furthermore, the Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust, which manages both schools, did not conduct a proper risk assessment to protect staff and students.
Strike Action Continues Amid Safety Concerns
Teachers will continue their strike action on Thursday and again on January 13, 14, and 15. They have criticized the trust for not addressing the safety issues and failing to provide support. Matt Wrack, the general secretary of NASUWT, stated that the CLiC Trust has not created a safe environment and is intimidating staff who speak out.
Jo Ashcroft, the trust’s chief executive, expressed disappointment over the strikes. She emphasized that pupil and staff safety remain a priority for the trust, but the union believes more urgent action is needed.
