Latest news with #teacherstrike
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Teachers strike at St Andrew's primary school in Hull
Teachers at a school in Hull have walked out for a second day over the "unfair treatment" of staff, their union classes at St Andrew's CE VA Primary School, Grandale, Hull, were sent home due to strike action by National Education Union (NEU) Burgin from the Hull branch of NEU said staff were striking over "inconsistent application of policies around pay, sickness absence and discipline that has led to unfair treatment of staff".A spokesperson from the school said the governing body was committed to work with the union to address the concerns that had been raised. Ms Burgin said the dispute formally began in March when staff put forward a list of complaints to school governors. She said policies being changed without consultation and parents complaints not being actioned were among a "plethora of issues" raised. Ms Burgin added that the resignations of two assistant head teachers in December had left "a bit of a vacuum at the top for leadership" which led to "disorganisation through the whole school". Head of religious education at the school Irene Treston-Waller said there were not enough staff to adequately supervise children during playtimes. Ms Treston-Waller, who has worked at the school for more than 12 years, said: "We are doing our best but we would really like additional support for those children who need it most."Overall, we've got lots of issues that have been raised and I think they all need to be addressed... and in a timely fashion so that we can get on with our job which is not being in here it's being out their teaching our children."A spokesperson for the school said: "We will ensure that all parents are kept fully informed about whether there will be any further strike action, however we hope to be able to avoid this by having constructive dialogue with trade union representatives."The BBC put staff concerns to the school, but it did not address them directly. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Redcar teachers to strike over longer school hours
Teachers at a chain of schools are set to go on strike in protest at plans to extend the school day. The National Education Union (NEU) said teachers at Outwood Grange Academy School in Redcar, alongside 14 other schools belonging to the trust across the country, will take industrial action. NEU regional secretary Beth Farhat claimed teachers had been forced into this position by an employer that "simply will not listen".Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) said it was "exceptionally disappointed" in the union's decision to strike. "We remain open to constructive dialogue," a spokesperson said. NEU said teachers would strike on 3 June, 10-11 June and 17-19 follows OGAT's decision extend the school by 30 minutes, it said. Ms Farhat said the changes were "deeply unpopular" and the trust's teachers already had a "huge workload" which was affecting staff retention. "We believe that by pushing ahead with these changes and ignoring their staff, OGAT will make matters even worse," she advised the trust to "listen to their staff" and negotiate with the union for the "sake of staff and pupils". 'Workload neutral' OGAT said it was increasing the length of the school day because it currently did not meet government's 32.5 hour-a-week minimum said its school day currently ended at 14:30 BST. "The small change we have proposed will mean students can learn more and achieve even stronger outcomes," a spokesperson said. They said they had also made a commitment to meet regularly with trade unions to "identify any unnecessary workload" so that the new school week was "workload neutral" for teachers. It said it was particularly disappointed that the union had chosen days when students were due to take "important exams". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
High school students are totally behind and addicted to their phones—it's making teachers crazy and driving them to quit
Gen Z and Gen Alpha's obsession with social media, like doomscrolling on TikTok, is making the classroom a living nightmare for some teachers—and driving them to outright quit. While the rise of ChatGPT has promised to revolutionize the field for the better, students may be moving faster than school guidance. As schools around the country are beginning to let out for the summer, many classrooms may not only find themselves empty of students—but teachers, too. That's because for thousands of educators, this year may have been the tipping point on calling it quits, with social media like TikTok and technology like ChatGPT piling stress onto the already overworked and underpaid field. 'Technology is directly contributing to the literacy decrease we are seeing in this country right now,' said one teacher who went viral on TikTok after quitting her high school English teacher job. 'I'm actually leaving the profession. I am quitting. Friday is my last day.' But she's not alone. Over half of educators—55%— said in 2022 they were thinking about leaving the profession earlier than they had planned. Across the country, over 400,000 teaching positions are either unfilled or are staffed by teachers without proper certification, according to Desiree Carver-Thomas, senior researcher at the Learning Policy Institute. But that number is still conservative, she says, with some school districts facing an up to 20% turnover rate. And while the pandemic put the microscope on teaching—and helped bring some meaningful change, like an increased focus on social-emotional and online learning—teachers continue to face an uphill battle. Not only are they educators, but they're often de facto therapists, social workers, and guardians—all during the school day, and while metrics show student test scores are at their lowest ever levels. For decades, the world of education has faced struggles retaining top talent. In fact, in 2015, hundreds of headlines highlighted a growing teacher shortage that were facing schools from Washington to Pennsylvania. Then came the pandemic, when the lack of educators became a national issue; one survey revealed that three-fourths of principals said that the number of teaching applicants was not enough. According to the Learning Policy Institute, 90% of annual teacher vacancies result from teachers leaving their careers, thanks in part to inadequate support, difficult working conditions, and low salaries. 'High turnover negatively impacts student learning and undermines school improvement efforts,' wrote Ryan Saunders and Amy Skinner of LPI. 'Schools with frequent teacher turnover see lower student achievement and face higher financial burdens, with teacher turnover costs ranging from $12,000 per teacher in small districts to $25,000 in larger ones.' But despite education's ability to be a rewarding profession—by helping to train the next generation of world changers—it remains financially unattractive. Graduates who majored in education end up earning one of the lowest median incomes within five years, according to recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That's not to mention that many teachers are still paying off thousands of dollars in student loans while spending on average over $600 of their own money on classroom supplies. 'Teachers are more than twice as likely than other working adults to report job-related stress,' Carver-Thomas tells Fortune. Cell phones have been in the classroom for decades now. In many cases, cell phones have also been effective research tools for students to access the internet when they may not have Wi-Fi or a computer at home. Plus, they've helped young people stay connected with the world and contact people in emergencies. However, schools have implemented restrictions on when they can be used at school. With 1 in 4 children having a smartphone by age 8, teachers have seen first-hand how young peoples' attention spans have declined after spending hours scrolling through social media and playing mobile games, not to mention the added teacher stress of enforcing anti-cell phone policies. 'Most of these kids prefer to live on their phones rather than experience real life. Additionally, cellphones are a constant distraction. Many students would get distressed if they couldn't check their phones frequently,' says Greg Freebury, who taught high school math before quitting and starting his own private tutoring company. At least eight states have realized the strain cell phones have had in the classroom and on students and taken action to limit their use. However, despite new laws, teachers have found it a near impossible task to enforce a cell phone ban when young people are increasingly addicted. The rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI models has given teachers some signs of hope for their overworked school days. The technology has the ability to significantly free up teachers' time by building lesson plans, grading papers, or explaining concepts to a struggling student. According to McKinsey, teachers could have 20%–40% of their time reallocated to activities that support student learning thanks to AI. But schools and districts have been slow to provide clear guidance on how to best use it the right way and how students can use it in and outside of the classroom. A recent New Yorker magazine article went viral for highlighting an unspoken reality in higher education: everyone is cheating their way through college, thanks to generative AI. And as the technology becomes more mainstream and advanced, younger students may lean on it more and possibly miss out on the chance to build foundational analytical thinking and writing skills. At the same time, there needs to be a balance, experts say. While having ChatGPT do students' homework assignments is not productive to learning, using it properly can be a gamechanger for their future. 'In the age of AI, we must prepare our children for the future—to be AI creators, not just consumers,' over 250 CEOs wrote in a letter sent to lawmakers earlier this month. 'A basic foundation in computer science and AI is crucial for helping every student thrive in a technology-driven world. Without it, they risk falling behind.' This story was originally featured on
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ipswich Westbourne Academy strikes paused as school tackles issue
Teachers who have been on strike over poor pupil behaviour have postponed future action after the school said it was introducing a new staff member to tackle the teachers at Westbourne Academy in Ipswich have walked out in protest at children's behaviour after they said chairs and scissors had been thrown at Transformation Trust (ATT), which runs the school, has hired a new vice principal for behaviour and pastoral care who will start after next week's half-term break. Darren Smith, senior regional officer for the National Education Union (NEU), said the teachers were "going to see how that goes" and had postponed action. Mr Smith said the NEU and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) had been in discussions."We've decided to proceed with [Wednesday and Thursday], but we will postpone strike action that had been planned for after half term in order to see those steps that are being put in place," he said."We're going to see how that goes. We wouldn't be postponing action if we didn't think this needed to be given a try at least."Mr Smith added he was looking forward to seeing if changes made by the trust could be ATT had previously acknowledged there was a "small but significant minority whose behaviour does not meet our high expectations". Sophie Walker is a science teacher and NEU representative on strike at the graduated and became a teacher 10 years ago and while initially excited for her future, admitted she had considered quitting both the school and teaching altogether. "[The trust] seems fairly confident that we're going to make this work," she said of the changes being implemented."Staff are very much on board and, as we do with everything, we'll give it our best shot to make this work. Only time will tell." "We are implementing a revised behaviour system developed with staff and currently being shared with pupils and parents for feedback," an ATT spokesperson said."We are also replacing the house system with a new year group-based pastoral structure, increasing capacity to provide direct and focused support."The trust said the new vice principal had a "strong reputation for improving culture and behaviour from the other schools within which he has worked".They added they were "pleased" the unions had paused strike action which the trust felt would give its "new approaches time to embed and make a difference"."We believe these changes will help restore the calm, safe learning environment that our students and staff deserve," they school has also advertised for a seclusion manager to start as soon as role would entail leading and developing the school's internal provision "by providing high-quality support for students who would have otherwise received suspensions", according to the job description. A Department for Education spokesperson said it was "committed to turning the tide on poor behaviour" and that new regional improvement teams would work with schools to improve standards. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ipswich teachers on strike after 'scissors thrown at them'
When Sophie Walker graduated and became a teacher 10 years ago, she felt excited for the this week the science teacher walked out on strike with 50 colleagues at her Ipswich school in protest at pupil at Westbourne Academy are having chairs and scissors thrown at them, and many are struggling with their mental health, Ms Walker students are refusing to attend lessons and are disrupting other classes, and even exams, she adds."They go and collect other students from classes and roam around in large groups. They come in with no intention of attending any lessons."Ms Walker, a representative for the National Education Union (NEU), admits it has made her consider quitting both the school, and teaching altogether."I'm only still here because of the students who want to learn. They deserve an education," she teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, says she resigned from the school, which has just over 1,000 pupils, after being pushed by students and sworn at more times than she can trust that runs the school acknowledges there is a "small but significant minority whose behaviour does not yet meet our high expectations" and says it is "actively addressing" this. 'Kicking doors and throwing water' Disruption is not dealt with consistently, according to several teachers, who say there is a lack of support from the senior leadership Emmanuel, who has taught English there for 24 years and is also an NEU representative, says four very experienced teachers have left in the last it is unusual for teachers to strike over pupil behaviour, he says it is a "last and desperate resort" to get some support."Pupils are running down the corridors for up to five hours a day. It can be 30 to 40 of them."They're kicking doors, throwing bottles full of water into classrooms and going into exam rooms and shouting."It's not being adequately dealt with. We want robust systems put in place that are followed through. We need to address this to stop it from spreading further." 'They think they don't have to work hard' Social media and mobile phones play a big part in the poor behaviour at Westbourne Academy, Ms Walker are not supposed to have phones in school but she says it is difficult to stop them."They see these people on social media making a lot of money and they think they don't have to work hard," she says."The content they are exposed to doesn't encourage good behaviour." The 31-year-old says she hopes the leadership team can start to communicate better and that staff, including the pastoral team, can be more consistent in handling poor behaviour."We got a new principal in September and he is trying hard but things need to change quickly."Her mental health has recently been "at an all-time low", she says. "I've worked hard to get where I am and I don't want to walk away from the students who want to learn, but I don't know how much longer I can cope." What do parents say? One mother says smaller issues, such as with school uniform, are punished while bigger ones are often not dealt says her son was attacked twice outside the school by older students and threatened with a was told it was being investigated but heard nothing back, she she claims her other child at the school has been sanctioned for minor breaches of the father says he removed his autistic daughter from the school to home educate her after she was bullied and threatened with sexual violence."The leadership took no accountability," he says."They said they would do something about it but instead they made my daughter feel like she was in the wrong by putting her in a room on her own to learn."They let the perpetrator get away with it." Some parents say they have lost all faith in the school. One father says the best teachers have left, with more due to leave in September."It's absolutely diabolical. Relationships have broken down between teachers and students and the strike will not help build back trust," he says."I have decided to move my daughter, who has special educational needs, to another school. She has been suspended several times for verbally lashing out but she can't regulate herself in that environment."He says he disagrees with the strike, finding it unfair that teachers are allowed to walk out while he would be fined if he took his children out of school. 'I don't blame the teachers' But other parents say they support the action and hope it leads to improved behaviour. Rebecca, 40, whose daughter attends the school, says she is "fully behind" the strike. "We had a period where she wouldn't go to her class because behaviour was so bad but she's happy going in now and that's all we can ask for," she says."I don't blame the teachers for going on strike. They shouldn't be getting abused. Parents need to work alongside them to improve behaviour."These pupils are pushing boundaries with how far they can push these teachers and it's not fair on those that want to learn." Some parents say they were shocked when the school was rated as "good" by Ofsted last noted the school "has not ensured that some pupils behave well enough around the school site and to a much lesser extent in lessons".But they said the Academy Transformation Trust, which runs the school, had taken "decisive action" to address "unacceptable standards of behaviour and internal truancy". 'Behaviour in schools has deteriorated' Vic Goddard, who featured on TV show Educating Essex and runs a multi-academy trust of six schools in the county, says behaviour has declined in schools since the Covid increasing number of young people get into a "spiral of behaviour", he says."As school leaders, our job is to support teachers to manage behaviour while allowing others to continue to learn, and that's where the battle is."He points out that current Year 9 and 10 students missed the start of Key Stage Two in primary school and were affected by the closure of Sure Start believes funding cuts to schools are also having an impact on behaviour."Once you've recruited, you've got to retain. Because the only way you can improve your school is by keeping people in it," he says. What do the school and the Department for Education say? In a statement, the trust says it takes the wellbeing of staff seriously, and supports their "desire to teach in disruption-free classrooms".Many parents are happy with the education, it adds, and says the trust is providing assistance to improve special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision and pastoral support."The majority of pupils at Westbourne behave well, are respectful, and want to learn," it says."But we acknowledge there is a small but significant minority whose behaviour does not yet meet our high expectations. We are actively addressing this."We encourage any parent who feels unheard to get in touch directly — we want to work together to ensure every child at Westbourne thrives." A Department for Education spokesperson says it is "committed to turning the tide on poor behaviour" and that new regional improvement teams will work with schools to improve standards. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
