Teachers to take action over pupil violence at Glasgow school

A teaching union is set to take industrial action at a Glasgow secondary school after raising concerns of pupil violence with the local authority.

Members of the NASUWT at Bannerman High School have set out plans for 12 days of action, which includes refusing to teach classes with pupils who are known by the school to be threatening and abusive. which

The Union claims Glasgow City Council has written to the Union’s members to tell them they will be sent home without pay if they refuse to stay in a classroom with a pupil who they believe is threatening their safety.

The Union had agreed with Glasgow City Council and the school some initial measures to ensure the safety of all teaching staff and to ensure that the needs of the pupils are met appropriately.

They claim that so far the Council and the school management have failed to put in place all of the measures needed to restore order and safety at the school.

Examples of the unacceptable pupil behaviour at the school include:

• Brandishing a screwdriver and causing damage to the building

• Refusal to obey instructions

• Shouting, swearing and issuing verbal threats to assault members of staff

• Physically shoving and shouting at teachers and other staff

• Blocking fire exits

• Theft of property

• Intimidating staff and pupils in communal areas

The City Council has written to the Union’s members to advise them that the Council intends to take punitive action against any teacher who takes part in lawful industrial action to refuse to teach violent pupils and to protect their safety at work.

NASUWT members have agreed to take strike action at the school on the following dates:

24th, 29th, 30th November, 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 21st December

"Systematic failures of the Council are placing the safety of teachers at serious risk"

In response, the NASUWT has issued notice to the City Council of a programme of days of strike action at the school to protect its members.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“The actions and systematic failures of the Council are placing the safety of teachers at serious risk.

“No teacher should have to go to work expecting to be sworn at, verbally abused or threatened with violence from the pupils they teach.

“Glasgow City Council’s attempts to bully our members are indicative of a climate of fear that the Council has allowed to develop at Bannerman School.”

Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:

“Where any pupil seeks to intimidate staff in classrooms, corridors and elsewhere, disrupt classes or pose a constant threat to the health and safety of teachers the Council should be taking action to protect staff rather than bullying and threatening our members.

“The NASUWT will not stand by whilst any teacher suffers violence and abuse at work and whilst Glasgow City Council fails to upholds its duty of care to staff and pupils.”

“The safety of our staff is taken very seriously"

A Glasgow City council spokeswoman said: “The position that has been outlined by the NASUWT is an inaccurate reflection of the extensive, ongoing support by the council and senior management at the school and it is deeply upsetting that the school is once again being dragged through the media.

“The safety of our staff is taken very seriously and additional measures have been in place at the school to meet the needs of the teachers and support staff in the ASL base and the refusal to teach by some members can only be seen as victimisation of young people with significant needs.

“The school has a ratio of one teacher to every three pupils in the base as well as pupil support workers with individual support plans for young people.

“We do not recognise the characterisation of the council’s behaviour as bullying nor have we threatened any member of staff.

“Our legal view was made clear to the NASUWT that refusal to teach an individual young person would be considered breach of contract and have consistently engaged with the union and will continue to do so.”

More on this story here.

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