National Education Union (NEU) members took industrial action at St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School in Halliwell in response to issues about what they say is performance-related pay and management’s ‘lack of transparency’.
More than 20 teachers joined the picket line with signs saying ‘The Children Are Our Priority’ and ‘Enough is Enough’.
(Image: Newsquest) Roz Morton, regional officer of the NEU said the action was due to a change in leadership over the last couple of years.
“The headteacher came in with a remit for change and tried to enact it too quickly without the buy-in of teachers.
“Shifts included rapidly imposed changes to the curriculum and work practices – like an overhaul of the entire maths curriculum without involving maths leads.
“The NEU members at the school have been raising their concerns about this for a long time.
“Bolton Council have recently been proactive in attempting negotiations. But we haven’t got as far as we needed to avert industrial action.”
(Image: Newsquest) “The school is absolutely rooted in the community that it serves. Staff don’t want their broad, inclusive curriculum sacrificed at the altar of results.”
Roz added: “Teachers who are not in the NEU wanted to express their support and solidarity with today’s action and that they’d like to be out here but in a different union. “There’s the concern of disciplinary action taken against you if you’re not the union that’s on strike. The issues at the picket line are very widely and deeply felt.
READ MORE: Teachers at St Matthew’s CE Primary School Halliwell to stage walk out
St Matthew’s CE Primary School Halliwell teachers explain strike action
“Bolton Council have recently been proactive in attempting negotiations. But we haven’t got as far as we needed to in order to avert the industrial action today.”
An NEU workplace representative said: “The school has totally changed.
“There’s a lack of transparency. We’re told to do things without being told why or how it’s going to benefit the children.
“As staff, we feel we’re not being respected. Many of us have a lot of experience that isn’t being taken on board.
(Image: Newsquest)
“It’s been a very difficult, stressful, emotional time. Something needs to be done.”
Teachers said their wellbeing has been “massively affected”.
The NEU workplace representative said: “So many of us are feeling sick in the mornings.
“I’ve seen more staff crying at the school in the last 12 months than in all the nine years I’ve worked here.
“Changes are being made without knowing our school, the families coming here, and the struggles we’ve had.
“There’s no thought of our community. It’s very impersonal.”
(Image: Newsquest) Several parents at the school were there to support teachers on the picket line.
A woman whose child went to the school said: “This used to be a really nice place. Now, none of the parents feel supported.
“I saw everything that’s going on and I want to show solidarity with the teachers because they helped my family through a lot.”
Liz Taylor, a former parent at the school, said: “This school was a home away from home when my older child went here.
“ I wouldn’t even consider the school for my younger daughter now.
“This school is so close, and I had to put her in a different school that’s a good 15-minute drive away. It’s annoying.”
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) will be striking on the following days:
- Wednesday 19 March 2025
- Tuesday 25 March 2025
- Wednesday 26 March 2025
- Tuesday 1 April 2025
- Wednesday 2 April 2025
- Thursday 3 April 2025
The NEU has said a total of 23 teachers at St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School were to take part in today’s action, and that 100 per cent of its members there voted for the walkouts.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “St Matthew’s Church of England School has been working with representatives from the National Education Union to resolve this matter.
“Unfortunately, they were unable to reach an agreement in time to prevent industrial action taking place today, and this has resulted in some disruption to the school timetable.”
