TEACHERS were set to walk out of their Yorkshire secondary school on strike today over wide-ranging problems with the managers.

It is the first of six strikes announced at St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School in Featherstone by teaching unions the NUT and NASUWT and public-sector union Unison.

Discontent has grown among the academy’s staff over a range of issues, including disciplinary action taken against two union members.

“The strike revolves around issues with leadership and management at the school,” said NASUWT national executive Celia Foote.

“Some of those issues have been resolved but there are still some outstanding issues.”

NUT Wakefield district secretary Sally Kincaid said that the NUT and NASUWT members voted for strike action by 100 per cent and 98 per cent votes respectively in protest against unreasonable management practices.

“The head teacher resigned two weeks ago for family reasons,” she said.

“The two members of staff who were suspended due to something they said in a union meeting have had their suspensions lifted.

“However, the school refuses to drop the disciplinary hearings against the two, so the teachers’ unions have notified the school (and) trust of the six days of planned action.”

Further strikes are planned for November 10, 11, 17, 18 and 19.

Messages of support can be sent to mikesproats@yahoo.com and divsec.wakefieldnut@gmail.com.

peterlazenby@peoples-press.com