Teachers at Westbourne Academy, which serves approximately 1,000 pupils, have embarked on a two-day strike to protest what they describe as poor student behaviour. National Education Union (NEU) members preparing to take strike action. Many of the affected educators picketed outside the school, carrying signs and chanting to raise awareness about the disturbances being created by a small number of students.
This strike action came on the heels of a long-standing frustration among teachers with Baltimore’s student behavior. According to one report, an estimated 50 percent of students are skipping school. Instead, they’re wandering the halls, creating disruptions and conflicts with staff and other students. The NASUWT union highlighted these issues, stating, “A large group of pupils at Westbourne Academy are refusing to attend lessons and instead choose to roam the school, disrupting other lessons and engaging in threatening behaviour towards staff and other pupils.”
During the strike period, students in other year groups as well, including Years 7, 8, and 9 were taking part in online lessons. This decision was intended to reduce disruption to their education even as teachers sounded alarms on health and learning conditions. Westbourne Academy is sponsored by the Academy Transformation Trust. Recognizing the challenging context, they have developed a comprehensive new approach to pupil behaviour management. This primary challenge is the new approach – to be rolled out after next half term.
Principal Mr. Higgon has had trouble in overcoming these behaviour problems even after reaching out to his school leadership for help. Smart from the Board of Teachers have told the district that their needs and ask for help are ignored for months on end. As one educator noted, “You come in every day and don’t know what you’re going to expect – that’s the nature of being a teacher.”
Nicky Hood, the executive principal of the multi-academy Academy Transformation Trust, knew things had to change. In his remarks, he emphasized the need to center staff wellness. She stated, “It’s right and proper that every child has a right to an education… and it’s right and proper that there are checks and balances to ensure that everything is done to help those young people engage in their education.”
When, in June 2024, the Ofsted inspection found Westbourne Academy to be a “good school overall”, it was taken as validation. The thing that has faculty really worried and frustrated is the continuing deterioration in student behavior. Teachers like Sophie Walker have voiced their determination to address these challenges, asserting the need to “make a stand against the behaviours of students… to make a point that enough is enough.”
