NEU ballots members over 'significant concerns' at Longsands Academy
Longsands said "recruiting in the current climate is challenging"
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
The National Education Union says it's balloting its members over concerns of the standard of teaching at Longsands Academy.
There has been a high turnover of staff, resulting in increased use of cover,meaning children are being taught by non-specialists in certain subjects.
There's reports some children have been taught in the school halls too.
In a statement, Paul McLaughlin, the regional secretary of the East of England NEU said: “There are significant concerns at Longsands regarding a number of issues.
"There has been a high turnover of staff, resulting in increased use of cover with the result that some children have been taught by non-specialists in certain subject areas."
"The timetables of year groups 8 and 9 were changed with little notice to both parents and staff, which can have a detrimental effect on learning.
"Matters have reached a point where members find the situation unacceptable, and these matters are now the subject of a dispute between the NEU at Longsands and the employer.
"The NEU is in the process of balloting our members for strike action.
"Having said that, we are hopeful of avoiding the need for action and both sides have committed to an urgent meeting aimed at resolving the current dispute.
"The issue of staff turnover is increasingly being felt across the region as teachers and support staff are frequently leaving due to the pressures of chronic underfunding, high levels of stress due to workload and inadequate pay.
"This exodus from the profession is in part driven members seeking a better work life balance. This cannot be good for the learning opportunities of our young people.
"The Government has so far turned a blind eye to this worsening situation.”
Principal at Longsands, Dr Catherine Cuswick, said "it's a natural process".
She added: "We have welcomed new teachers to Longsands and said goodbye to those retiring, changing careers or moving on to new jobs.
"It is a natural process of teaching that teachers in various stages of their careers move onto new jobs, promotions or retire.
"In a school the size of Longsands, with around 1600 pupils that does mean we will have a turnover of staff, as do other secondary schools across the country.
"Recruiting in the current climate is challenging.
"We had a number of late resignations last term, which meant we are still currently recruiting for permanent teachers in some positions at Longsands.
"We have been informed by the teaching unions that unfortunately, staff are balloting for industrial action.
"This action appears to originate from the recent changes we had to make to timetables at the very end of last term.
"We have done everything we can to engage with the unions to discuss their concerns and will continue to meet with them.
"The wellbeing and happiness of staff are important and crucial in ensuring we provide an excellent education for the young people we serve at Longsands.
"We are working hard at Longsands to improve, which takes time, but we are doing everything we can to achieve a higher grading at the next Ofsted inspection."