Pencoedtre school strikes: Are teachers getting support?

TEACHERS at Pencoedtre High School in Barry have had enough, and, on Wednesday, January 10, they went on strike over “serious behaviour problems”.

Former teacher and NASUWT representative Neil Butler told us internal truancy in the school is rife, with pupils “prowling” the corridors in gangs.

Sharon Daly, executive member for southeast Wales at NASUWT, said physical assault would normally mean pupils are excluded and verbal abuse would result in pupils being sent home for the day – something that is not happening at Pencoedtre.

The Vale Council, which runs the school, says it has updated the school’s behaviour policy and provided staff specialist training to help confront problem pupils.

But if, as some media outlets have reported, staff are being used as “punch bags”, is it enough to update behaviour policies and introduce further training to tackle this, or does more severe action need to be taken?

We pushed the Vale Council further on what they meant by “updating behaviour policies and training” and here’s what they had to say.

“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 council added there were “lockdown procedures” in place if, in the rare event, behaviour got completely out of control.

The council added: “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 also lockdown procedures in place at the school to deal with significant incidents and these are used proportionately.”

• Watch our Facebook live as we were at the first of the intended strikes, by clicking here

Teachers went on strike at Pencoedtre High on January 10 over lack of support in instilling discipline (Image: Newsquest)

The school in Barry that used to have a headteacher who ran chippies on the side while 15 fights were going on in the playground

Pencoedtre High is one of Barry’s biggest schools with more than 900 pupils.

The school, which opened in 2018, was formerly Bryn Hafren Comprehensive when it was girls-only.

Pupils and staff moved into new-build £22.8 million premises in January 2022.

In February 2023, an Estyn inspection placed the school into special measures after damning analysis of the leadership team and reports of high rates of persistent absence.

At the time, one parent said her son counted 15 fights in one lunchtime at the school.

Debra Thomas - who spent 11 years turning round Cowbridge Comprehensive – was appointed executive head teacher at Pencoedtre after the Estyn report.

Former head teacher Lee Humphreys previously raised eyebrows by running two chip shops with his wife Sam, on top of his job at the school.

Mr Humphreys ran Fish Kitchen 1854 in Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly, as well as a second restaurant Fish Kitchen 1931 in nearby Bargoed.

Before the school fell into special measures, the former head split the job with running chip shops (Image: Newsquest)

Read more:

• Pencoedtre High strike: Teachers want discipline instilled
• Read council’s statement on strikes, here
• Pencoedtre High crucial meeting with teachers and parents

Former teacher and NASUWT representative Neil Butler told us at the strike on Wednesday: “Learning cannot go on in class when you have kids outside causing trouble.

“We need more boots on the ground patrolling the corridors to make sure kids are in classrooms.”

Sharon Daly, national exec NASUWT member for south Wales, told us basic discipline practices are not being followed at the school (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Daly told us: “If I was physically assaulted that pupil would be excluded. If I was verbally abused that pupil would be sent home to return the following day.

“In this school, that is not happening and we are allowing children to behave in ways which is unacceptable in society.”

Further strikes could take place on January 18, 24, 25, 31 and February 1.

Parents, pupils, teachers, what is going on at Pencoedtre High? Is there violence in the school? How will the proposed strike action affect you? Let us know emailing harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.