Staff end school strikes over pupil behaviour

1 hour ago

James RobinsonLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Strikes at Haydon Bridge High School began in December last year

NEU/NASUWT Education workers and supporters holding National Education Union flags and an official strike picket sign outside Haydon Bridge High School. There are seven strikers standing next to a sign at the entrance to Hayden Bridge High School. — Strikes at Haydon Bridge High School began in December last year

Strike action linked to pupil behaviour at a school has ended, unions have confirmed.

Members of the NASUWT and the NEU unions at Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland have walked out on several occasions over the last six months, but in April the headteacher quit and new leadership has been introduced.

Northumberland County Council's cabinet member for education Guy Renner-Thompson said the decision to to call off the strike was "good for pupils and good for parents".

Julie Parkin, from the NASUWT, said the industrial action ended "following recent positive and constructive discussions" with the council and the school's current leadership regarding the future of Haydon Bridge.

She said teachers had taken "numerous days" of strike action, starting in December 2025, over the "failure of school management to put in place an effective behaviour management system to deal with challenging and defiant behaviour from some pupils".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, both unions have now confirmed the current industrial action had come to an end.

Iain Buist/NCJ Media A blue sign with white lettering for Haydon Bridge High School on a patch of grass covered with brown leaves. It is placed in front of a tree. To the right is a path leading to the school. — Preparations have begun to covert the school into an academy

A recent poor Ofsted report raised concerns about the "persistent disruptive behaviour" of a "minority" of pupils and led to the school being placed in special measures, but now preparations will begin to covert Haydon Bridge into an academy.

The unions said teachers had been calling for urgent changes in the pupil behaviour policy for more than a year prior to the first walkouts.

Confirming the end of the strikes, Parkin said members had already reported a number of encouraging improvements to working conditions and they "welcome the renewed commitment to collaborative working" and "look forward to continuing regular constructive dialogue".

Renner-Thompson said: "There's a new leadership team in place at Haydon Bridge and we're working alongside the Cumbrian Learning Trust to make sure it is the best school it can be."