Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have been staging walkouts at Cottingham High School near Hull, East Yorkshire since January. The industrial action stems from redundancies and planned changes that have raised concerns about workload implications among teachers. The ongoing strike has drawn mixed reactions from parents, while school authorities express a desire to resolve the dispute.
Roseanne Plater, a maths teacher with 12 years of experience, described the situation as "horrible." She noted that despite informal warnings from teachers last year, school administrators ignored concerns about the proposed changes. Plater's involvement in the strike reflects a broader sentiment among educators who feel compelled to take action.
"We want this dispute to end. In our view the key to resolving it is a genuine willingness to talk, listen, and then to try to identify where compromise may be possible" – A spokesperson for Cottingham High School
Parents are caught in the middle of the conflict. They sympathize with the striking teachers but are also concerned about the impact on their children's education. During a recent meeting, parents expressed their worries and confusion over the ongoing situation.
"Not getting the care or education they need" – Ben Harper-Longbone
Ben Harper-Longbone, a parent with two children at the school, described the situation as "confusing," noting that students are not receiving adequate care or educational attention. He emphasized the need for resolution.
"There are lots of allegations being made by both parties but they need to bang their heads together and crack on" – Ben Harper-Longbone
Vicky, another concerned parent, echoed similar sentiments during the meeting, urging for an end to the conflict without delving into the specifics of each side's arguments.
"I'm very worried. I've heard the school point of view, I've heard what the teachers have had to say, and I'm really not bothered. We just need an end to the whole row" – Vicky
The NEU continues its industrial action, demanding changes to the school's plans. Teachers involved in the strike met with parents to explain their reasons for taking such measures. Despite these efforts, there is no clear end in sight as both parties remain at an impasse.
The school maintains that it has always acted transparently and in good faith. However, this assurance has done little to alleviate the concerns of educators and parents who feel trapped in a stalemate.
