Striking school staff say violence 'normalised'

A group of teachers and support staff working at a school for children who are autistic have gone on strike amid claims reports of assaults were not being taken seriously.

Staff at the Duke of Lancaster in Fakenham, Norfolk said a lack of action by the Eastern Education Group (EEG), which runs the school, meant violence had become "normalised".

The National Education Union (NEU) which represents staff said basic health and safety needs were not being met.

EEG said that since taking over the school in 2024 it had strengthened safeguarding, increased staffing and specialist training for staff.

English teacher James Coulson, who was on the picket line outside the school, said he was reluctant to go on strike but felt the situation was unsafe both for staff and pupils.

"We accept that working in an institution of this character there is a certain degree of risk that some things will inevitably happen from time to time," he said.

"We have numerous staff who are getting hurt, some seriously hurt, some life-changingly hurt and this is avoidable.

"The problem is that the correct measures are not being put into place, the correct consequences and follow-up is not being put into place, and so what has happened is these kinds of incidents have become effectively normalised."

Coulson said injured staff should be given care and support and not expected to immediately return to teaching.

One support staff worker, who did not want to be named, said she had been kneed in the stomach and then expected to return to work with the child that had assaulted her that day.

Another said: "We don't feel that we're being protected enough after staff have been assaulted.

"We don't feel they have a duty of care towards us with our mental well-being and, because it takes a lot, it gives us trauma when things like that happen."

In a statement to parents on its website, the EEG said after risk assessments and safeguarding plans the school would be able to open as usual despite the strike.

It said staff on strike had a legal right to do so but that "any disruption to the school day is not in the best interests of our children and young people, particularly in a specialist setting where consistency is crucial".

It added that safeguarding had been "overhauled" since it took over the school.

"A new group head of safeguarding and behaviour and a new safeguarding practitioner have been appointed for the summer term, representing a significant further investment in specialist safeguarding and behaviour leadership," EEG added.

The NEU said that further strikes were possible, but officials hoped to meet with senior school leaders to discuss the concerns of members.

The school has space for 100 children aged 5-16 who are autistic or who have other communication and interaction needs.

Its Ofsted report from March 2024 said it required improvement.

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