Pencoedtre High School teachers in second day of strikes

We were back on the picket line on a frosty morning, today, January 18, where we spoke to teachers who told us two assaults on staff had taken place in the past week, there were more than 100 incidences of internal truancy, and teachers said they felt "helpless".

One teacher is said to have attempted to break up a fight in the corridors and was subsequently hit in the ribs. The teacher in question tried to call for backup when they saw tension was rising, but no one came.

In another incident, it is alleged a teacher was pushed. The pupil in question was said to have been removed from lesson one, but was back in class by lesson three.

Teachers said they felt hopeless (Image: Newsquest)

One teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, said all that seems to be happening is policymakers are sitting in offices making policies without seeing what is happening on the ground.

Also of concern, while at the picket line students told teachers they were turned away from the school when they showed up at 8.30am and told to come back at 9am – as the school had intended on this day of strike – leaving the pupils to roam the area unsupervised in what NASUWT member Sharon Daly described as an “appalling safeguarding concern”.

Mrs Daly also spoke in glowing terms about acting executive head Debra Thomas, who it was announced yesterday has left her role at the school.

Mrs Daly said the school was now “rudderless” having lost an experienced headteacher.

An acting headteacher is now in place while a candidate is found to fill the role permanently.

Teachers say policy makers are not seeing what is happening on the ground (Image: Newsquest)

Read more:

• Executive headteacher of Pencoedtre High leaves role
• Pencoedtre High strike: Teachers want discipline instilled

‘We feel helpless’: Teacher at second day of Pencoedtre strike action over school behaviour

One teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, described the incident of the teacher being hit in the ribs earlier in the week before going on to say teachers cared, and they did not want to be standing in the freezing cold.

On the alleged lack of support from governing body the Vale Council, the teacher said: “They (Vale Council) think they are putting policies in place, but we are not seeing the impact. They are in there writing policies, but not seeing what is happening on the ground.

“For example, internal truancy is the biggest problem. They say they have made an ‘internal truancy action plan’, but it has not been sent to staff.

“I do not want everything to be negative. We are here because we care. We do not want to be here standing in the freezing cold.

“We feel helpless.”

Former executive head Debra Thomas left her role at the school (Image: Newsquest)

• Teachers say they are striking because they’re not getting support in disciplining pupils while school governors say they are applying updated behaviour requirements and further training to support them in trying to control unruly children. So, where are we in the deadlock between the strikers and the school in the debacle surrounding Pencoedtre High?

Executive member for the southeast of Wales at NASUWT, Sharon Daly told us positive talks have been held with the Vale Council and they have committed to bringing in more staff, be that supply teachers.

However, Mrs Daly had reservations, highlighting supply teachers' lack of familiarity with children as well as questioning whether the school would actually get more teachers - with none on the ground yet and the teaching profession going through the “biggest ever” recruitment and retention crisis.

Apparently teachers had been assaulted in the week between the two strike days (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Daly said: “Why would you want to come to work to be physically and verbally assaulted by children whose safety you cannot protect?”

In their latest statement Vale Council said they are working to resolve the issue with the teachers.

A spokesperson for the council said: “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.”

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.