Kirkintilloch High School teachers announce industrial action after 'failure to tackle abuse and violence'

Teachers at an East Dunbartonshire school are set to take industrial action due to the local authority’s ‘failure’ to address poor pupil behaviour and staff abuse.

Staff at Kirkintilloch High School say the move is in response to alleged incidents of regular verbal abuse, some violent incidents and pupils being allowed to roam corridors and shared spaces in the school when they should be in class.

Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union believe there are no serious consequences for poor behaviour and an overuse of ineffective restorative approaches to managing incidents of abuse.

Staff also believe that neither the school or the local authority appear to have done anything significant to embed the key points of the National Action Plan on Relationships and Behaviour announced by the cabinet secretary last August.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said: “We have been seeking to engage in negotiations with the employer for some months now, but we have not seen any evidence to date that this issue is being treated with the urgency or seriousness it deserves.

“We are calling on the employer to engage meaningfully with us as a matter of urgency to ensure that effective measures are put in place to address the behaviour problems that have been identified by our members.”

The initial industrial action, which begins on February 5, will involve refusing to cover for absent colleagues and refusing to undertake any additional voluntary duties such as extracurricular clubs, trips, or study classes outside of their contracted working hours.

Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland national official, added: “Members feel blamed and gaslit by management for the poor behaviour of pupils. They report being told at debriefing meetings that their lessons are ‘not fun or engaging enough’.

“A culture where there are no consequences for poor behaviour is not setting up pupils well for adult life and fails the employers’ duty of care towards its staff.

“The continued failure of the employer to take the concerns of our members seriously and act on them with any urgency means we have been left with no option than to begin a campaign of industrial action.

“We will not let our members be left exposed to abuse and violence.”

Ann Davie, chief executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, said: “We are aware of the planned action by NASUWT members at Kirkintilloch High School.

“We have fully engaged with the school management regarding NASUWT staff concerns and we are currently in discussions with the union to try to resolve the issues they have brought forward.”