A BARRY secondary school is in the national spotlight after teachers declared that ‘enough was enough’ and walked out in protest about bad behaviour by pupils.
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official Wales, said: “Strikes are a last resort for Pencoedtre’s dedicated teachers. There are some pupils at the school whose complex needs can only be met at a specialist provision, but no places have been offered. This negligence is causing immense distress for everyone.
“School management is eager to resolve these issues and the executive headteacher has put forward a number of practical solutions but the Vale Council refuses to implement them within a safe and reasonable time frame.
“Pencoedtre is just one of a number of schools in Wales where the NASUWT is in dispute over learner behaviour. This is a national crisis that the Welsh Government needs to get serious about.”
The teachers walked out on Wednesday, 10th January and plan further walkouts over the next few weeks.
Photo: Vale Council.
Cllr Rhys Thomas (Conservative) represents the Plymouth ward on the Vale Council and is the chair of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee. He said: “It’s concerning to read about the teacher walk out at Pencoedtre School due to worsening pupil behaviour.
“Teachers should not have to deal with this at work. The Vale Council, the Central South Consortium and Welsh Government need to get a grip of this – urgently.”
The Vale Council and Pencoedtre High School issued a joint statement saying: “Both the Council and school are disappointed by this strike action, which comes at a time when year-10 pupils are sitting important examinations and year-13 students are preparing for upcoming A-Level exams.
“Today (Wednesday) the school is open to a limited number of pupils. Year 10 pupils must attend to sit an exam, while pupils from other year groups have been invited to attend where a safe level of supervision can be provided.
“Sixth Form pupils with lessons at Whitmore High School will attend these as normal and pupils entitled to free school meals can attend school between 12pm and 12.30pm to collect a lunch bag.
“We are fully aware of the issues affecting staff and are working with the NASUWT to resolve them.
“The work taking place has been discussed with the trade union in regular meetings and includes steps to improve the working environment and update the school’s behaviour policy.
“All staff will undergo specialist, ongoing training, with a significant number involved in training this week. This professional development is designed to improve teaching and learning. It will also help create positive relationships with all pupils and is focused on addressing Estyn recommendations following the recent inspection.
“The Local Authority, Senior Leaders and Governors are committed to actioning the Post-inspection Action Plan (PIAP). This includes improving the provision to address the behaviour of a minority of pupils who have trauma-related issues.
“Staff and pupil safety is of the highest importance and any incidents that impact this are taken extremely seriously. They are subject to robust investigation and accurate recording, with subsequent action taken in line with appropriate policies.
“These include the school’s Disciplinary Policy, Welsh Government Statutory Guidance for Exclusions and the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act.
“There are lockdown procedures in place at the school to deal with significant incidents and these are used proportionately.”
Photo: Welsh Parliament.
Laura Anne Jones, the Conservative Shadow Education Minster in The Senedd, said: “I have previously raised concerns about violent behaviour within schools which have been dismissed time and time again by the Labour Government.
“As the education crisis in Wales worsens thanks to 25 years of Labour failures and cuts to education, with PISA results their worst on record and the attainment gap ever-growing, the last thing pupils need is further disruption due to strike action.”
With over 900 pupils at the school, Pencoedtre was put into special measures by standards body Esytn last year.
Estyn said high rates of persistent absence and low attendance at the school were ‘of significant concern’.
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