School trust accused of 'strike-breaking' by union

A teaching union at a school has announced three more days of walk-outs after it accused its academy trust of "strike-breaking".

National Education Union (NEU) members at Samworth Church Academy in Mansfield walked out this week amid an ongoing dispute over workload and management practices.

The union has claimed the school brought in employees from across the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham Multi Academy Trust to cover for striking staff in what it called "a deeply divisive step".

A spokesperson for the academy denied it brought in teachers from elsewhere and used Samworth senior staff to cover lessons instead - but the union has said it stands by its claim.

The union said a letter was sent to parents in advance of the strike action, planned from Tuesday to Thursday, which said the academy would remain "fully staffed".

The letter to parents read: "As we are part of a Trust, we have been able to draw upon academic and pastoral support from our colleagues."

Gareth Jones, NEU East Midlands officer, said the decision to bring in staff to keep the school open was "a deeply divisive step".

He said: "This is an ill-considered, irresponsible and needlessly aggressive escalation from an employer that seems to want to alienate its workforce further using tactics that will have a horrible historic resonance for the community we serve."

Jones added: "This dispute will end with a negotiated resolution, and the quickest way to do that is to be round the table with serious negotiations, and not to try and undermine the dispute."

However, a spokesperson for Samworth Church Academy said, despite the letter, it ultimately did not need to call in additional resources from across the trust and used senior leaders, who are based permanently at the school, to cover lessons.

"The Academy will remain open to all students, with the sole aim of keeping disruption of learning to a minimum, particularly for exam groups in Year 11 and 13," the spokesperson added.

"Our approach remains consistent with maintaining a safe environment for students while respecting the rights of staff participating in strike action."

However, Jones said NEU members at the school were "100% certain" staff had been brought in from other sites, which had directly prompted three additional strike days on 3, 4, and 5 March.

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