More strikes at school just weeks after deal

Four days of strike action have been announced at a Lincoln primary school just weeks after an agreement was reached.

Sir Francis Hill Community Primary School on Bristol Drive has been accused of bullying, humiliation and poor leadership with teachers and staff walking out in a long-running dispute.

One of the three unions involved, the National Education Union (NEU), said it "at no point" agreed to call off the strikes, but suspended action while an independent review took place.

The strikes, with unions NASUWT and UNISON also stepping in, are due to take place on 10, 11, 15 and 16 July.

In a letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the school's board of governors said the announcement of future strike days left them "surprised and disappointed".

In June, Lincolnshire County Council said suspension of industrial action came following "productive conversations between the school and unions".

An independent review had been agreed to look into collective grievances, relating to staff treatment and concerns.

A spokesperson for NEU said: "The employer failed to agree to assurance around the process, and were unwilling to ensure our members were protected under the process with a guarantee of no changes."

The uncertainty of the dispute is leaving parents "incredibly worried" about the impact this will have on their children's education, according to LDRS.

Elizabeth, a mother of one pupil at the school, said: "When my child went back to school after the other lot of strikes he was very emotional and did not want to go back in.

"He’s only recently started to become happy again.

"He became anxious and worried when I discussed the strikes with him so I started telling him they were teacher training days."

Geraldine Willders, head of service for school strategy at Lincolnshire County Council, described it as a "disappointing development", given that an "independent review of staff concerns" was under way.

"We understand that the school plans to reopen negotiations with the NEU while continuing to work on the agreed plan with the other two unions," she said.

The school would "do all it can to minimise the impact on pupils", she added.

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