‘Members are clear that they would much rather be teaching, however feel that the school has left them with no choice’
NEU members stage industrial action outside Hessle Penshurst Primary School.(Image: NEU)
Teachers set up a picket line to stage industrial action outside a Hessle primary school amid union members’ health and safety concerns. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) staged an hour-long walk out this morning at Hessle Penshurst Primary School in Hessle, Hull.
It follows a ballot by members at the school over the management’s response to health and safety concerns, relating entirely to learner behaviour. Union members are calling for new policies to make them feel safer, union branch secretary Steve Scott explained.
A spokesperson for the school said leaders have been proactive in addressing health and safety concerns, ‘with refinements made where necessary’.
Fourteen members of staff at the school, which is understood to have more than 300 pupils, staged industrial action alongside Mr Scott, the Joint District and Branch Secretary for East Riding NEU. He said the response from the public was positive, although stressed union members would much rather have not staged the hour-long industrial action.
Mr Scott said: “We had a great picket line this morning with 14 members of staff taking industrial action. Members are clear that they don’t want to be stood here and would much rather be teaching, however they feel that the school has left them with no choice other than to take action to safeguard their health and safety, and that of the learners.
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“This is all about the processes that are in place to deal with pupil behaviour. Our members are being subjected to verbal assault and physical assault daily, to the point that they now don’t feel safe. And part of the reason they don’t feel safe is they don’t feel that the procedures and policies are in place to back them up and they want to get those routines in the school to make sure that behaviour management is dealt with consistently and appropriately.
“There was great support from the public. We had lots of honks from passing traffic, and parents who were walking past were generally supportive and understood why we were taking action.
“Members obviously regret having to take action, but are hopeful that this will focus the minds of school leadership and encourage them to work on the policy and procedures requested to ensure that working conditions are safe for staff and pupils, and that the education the pupils can continue uninterrupted.”
“Concerns have been raised for ages now – taking industrial action isn’t a quick process – so the school have had a long time to try and get this resolved. Interestingly, very late on they sent us the policies that members have been asking for, and whilst the intent there was good the policies were lacking detail and don’t address all of the concerns.
“So when we put it to members they said that it wasn’t good enough. We’re getting some dates in the diaries to work on those policies. We just need there to be more movement in the right direction.
The school forms part of Hessle Academy, an all-through school providing education and support for students aged three to 19. The Academy comprises Hessle High School and Sixth Form College and Penshurst Primary School. The high school and primary school were rated good at their latest Ofsted inspection in 2024.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “Penshurst Primary School is a safe and welcoming environment. Leaders have been proactive in addressing health and safety concerns relating entirely to learner behaviour. A small minority of children require adaptations, with positive work under way to ensure their social and emotional needs are met to support access to learning.
“Behaviour development is a shared responsibility, and leaders have worked with staff to ensure consistent application of policy and procedures, with refinements made where necessary.
“Children of several staff members involved in the strike continue to attend our school, reflecting confidence in the safety and support provided. It is extremely disappointing that, despite this collaborative work, strike action has been taken, which we consider unnecessary.”
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