Industrial action threat over school's 'toxic culture'

A teaching union has said it has no option but to consider industrial action over the "toxic culture" at a Dumfries secondary school.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) gave a vote of no confidence in the management of the town's North West Community Campus (NWCC) in July.

The secondary teachers said they had been disappointed by a "weak response" received from Dumfries and Galloway Council this month.

The local authority said it was aware of the concerns and was working to find a "mutually-agreed resolution".

The NWCC is the newest secondary in the town - opening in August 2018.

It was forced to shut just a few weeks later after incidents in which staff and pupils were hurt - including a child being hit by a smart board.

Pupils were finally able to return to the £28m site in April 2019.

Secondary teachers at the all-through campus raised a vote of no confidence in school management in July this year.

They cited a "toxic culture, poor decision-making and failures by the senior management at the school".

Now they say a response they received on 9 October has not addressed their concerns.

Local EIS association secretary Andrew O'Halloran said they were "deeply disappointed".

He said they felt their concerns had "fallen on deaf ears".

"The council has left our members no choice other than to consider industrial action to challenge the toxic culture within the school," he added.

"Our members in the school are suffering from low morale and are at the end of their tether.

"They feel demoralised by the lack of action."

The council said it was aware of the concerns regarding the campus.

"We have been working closely with the campus' staff and the union for some time and will continue to do so to find a mutually-agreed resolution," said a spokesperson.

“Our education and human resources departments will endeavour to continue to engage with colleagues and the EIS to address any issues that are being raised at the NWCC."