Strike-hit school 'making changes to raise standards'

Action has been taken to improve standards at a high school where teachers have staged a series of strikes, an academy trust has said.

Staff at St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale have said they will take part in another three-day walkout over issues including support provided to the most disruptive pupils.

A St Teresa of Calcutta Trust spokesperson said: "For too long, including before St Cuthbert's became part of our Trust, outcomes were amongst the lowest in the local authority and the restructure is needed to deliver longer-term school improvement."

The NASUWT said it would "worsen staffing, the ability of teachers to provide a safe and calm learning environment, and workplace safety".

Members of the union have taken 13 days of industrial action at St Cuthbert's RC High School since February, with further strikes planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Adele Dinnen from Norden's Year 11 son is currently sitting his GCSEs.

She said: "He has not had a proper education since after the February half-term when the strikes began.

"The amount of lessons they've missed out means they've not even covered all the topics, so he his worried and it's not great for kids to feel anxious at such an important time in their lives."

The trust said: "Ongoing disruption is having a direct impact on the education of our pupils and we recognise the frustration this is causing for families and share their concern.

"Year 11 pupils are being prioritised, with specific plans in place during strike days to support them as exams begin."

The NASUWT said its teachers would continue to teach their Year 11 pupils on strike days to ensure they received continuity of support.

Jo Nixon, from Shawforth near Rochdale, has a daughter in Year 10.

She said: "She wants to be a social worker and she's worried about failing her GCSEs.

"I feel this is worse than Covid because during lockdown the teachers did do Zoom calls but these strikes mean that the teachers are offering no support."

Muammer Okay, who has a daughter in Year 7, said: "She doesn't know if she's coming or going and as parents we're trying to keep her busy, so we're really stuck because we don't know if she's going to school or not."

Rachel Knight, the NASUWT's national executive member for Greater Manchester, said: "We have continued to ask the Trust to postpone the restructure and prioritise stabilising the school but they have refused, focusing instead on organisational change rather than the immediate need for safety of staff and students."

The St Teresa of Calcutta Trust said it had "engaged in a meaningful consultation on the staffing restructure, which has resulted in numerous amendments and a guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies".

It added: "At this stage, it is difficult to see how this dispute can be resolved without a change in approach and we urge union representatives to return to constructive engagement."