Primary School Teachers Go On Strike Over Pupils Biting Them, Bringing In…

Primary school teachers from two different schools have begun strike action after pupils kicked and bit staff and brought knives into the classroom.

Staff at Lily Lane Primary School and Ravensfield Primary School in Manchester say they have been physically attacked and some pupils are too scared to attend class, The Daily Mail reports.

The report references teachers saying there had been instances of pupils being hit, kicked and even spat at.

Both schools are part of the Changing Lives in Collaboration Trust (CLiC) and following the announcement of strike action, the trust said the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff was its ‘highest priority’.

The trust said teachers were ‘suffering high levels of stress and anxiety which are affecting their entire lives’.

There were other reports of primary school teachers being treated not well in other schools.

Rachel Knight and Jac Casson, National Executive Members for Greater Manchester, said: ‘Working conditions at these CLiC Trust schools are devastating the teachers. They are desperate for change. Alongside their physical injuries, teachers are suffering high levels of stress and anxiety which are affecting their entire lives.

‘All they want is to go to work in a safe environment and to be able to keep their pupils safe.’

According to the report, CLiC said it was ‘disappointed’ to see the walkout ‘so soon after the ballot without adequate opportunity to respond to members’ concerns’.

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It also quotes Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, as saying: ‘This strike represents an unprecedented event for our union: two primary schools from the same academy trust taking action over worryingly similar concerns. It is fair to say that this strike constitutes a declaration of emergency from the teachers. The health and safety of everyone at these schools is at risk.’

Leaders at the trust say they are keen to work with NASUWT and respect the right of its members to take action. But added that the union chose not to accept a ‘collective conciliation’.