TEACHERS manned the picket line at Newquay biggest secondary school during their first day of strike action on Wednesday (February 26).

More than 50 members of the National Education Union (NEU) as well as supporters attended the protest outside Newquay Tretherras.

They voted to take industrial action after “losing patience” with the Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT), which runs the school, for “not respecting many aspects of the school teachers pay and conditions document.”

Martin Dixon from the National Education Union said: “There are a number of reasons for striking.

“The Government says that teachers should not do unnecessary admin work.

“To clarify this, it lists 23 tasks that teachers should not do.

“The school had previously not respected this list, but they have now agreed to do so. This is why we say progress is being made.

“Teachers are demanding that the Trust implements new health and safety policies.

“Again, progress has been made on this, but the teachers need a guarantee that this will happen.

“Senior leaders were frequently dropping unannounced into classes and making judgements on what they saw.

“NEU members are demanding that a new observation policy is implemented by the Trust.

“Teachers are demanding that they gain more time for planning, preparation and assessment and that time spent in tutor times is included in this.

“The Government say that teachers can only be directed to do specific tasks for 1265 hours per year.

“Obviously, teachers work a lot more than this, but this is for specifics such as teaching time, meetings, parents' evenings etc.

“This was not being respected by the school and teachers had been directed to work many hours above this limit.

“The Trust has now accepted that break times are part of this directed time which is progress.

“During breaks teachers don't leave site. They deal with all sorts of tasks.

“There is no resolution though on how teachers are to be recompensed for these excess hours.”

The picket line received dozens of beeps of support from passing motorists and received food deliveries from parents.

Hundreds of pupils missed school for the day as Newquay Tretherras was closed to Years 9 and 10.

The academy was open to Year 7, 8 and 11 whilst Year 12 and Year 13 students were welcome to use the KS5 facilities to study and attend any lessons that are on.

A second day of strike action is due to take place on Thursday, February 27.

The Cornwall Education Learning Trust has also been notified that there will be three days of strikes next week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The National Education Union (NEU) said 92 per cent of teachers voted in favour of strike action, reflecting the “strength of feeling about the way they are treated by their employer.”

Newquay Tretherras headteacher Gemma Harries refutes the figure stating that 69 per cent of National Education Union (NEU) teaching members at Tretherras are “considering” strike action, which equates to 55 teaching staff out of a possible 217 staff.

The headteacher stated they were informed industrial action would take place despite Trust executive leaders’ negotiations with NEU officers had resulted in “positive outcomes and progress.”

But Ian Williams, the NEU branch secretary said there had “unfortunately” been slow progress toward a resolution despite “initial positivity” around the appointment of the new CEO Dan Morrow.

Mr Williams said: “The first day of the strike at Newquay Tretherras had over 50 supporters and pickets out in great voice.

“We had food delivered by parents, incredible support from the public and video messages of solidarity from National Executive members.

“Clearly the whole community stands with the teachers in this dispute.

“The spirit of the strikers is unwavering.

“Sadly, there are no signs yet of any talks.

“The NEU stand ready to talk at any moment and to get a resolution, but until that happens the strike shows every sign of growing.”

Mr Williams previously stated: “The last thing that National Education Union members want to do is to be striking, but they are determined to create a safe, happy, creative and enriching environment for all the children at Newquay Tretherras.

“Our members have tried for months to resolve these issues, but the multi academy trust has not been listening.

“The school teachers pay and conditions document is approved by Parliament annually.

“There is a huge recruitment and retention crisis in education and yet this multi academy trust is driving teachers away from the jobs they love.

“Our members are not prepared to accept this anymore.

“The resolution is simple: adopt fair policies and procedures. Our reps and officers remain willing to negotiate at all times.”

A spokesperson for Newquay Tretherras told the Voice: “Negotiations with the NEU are ongoing and have so far, resulted in positive outcomes and progress on reaching agreements in principle.

“However, due to an unfortunate delay in timelines for these discussions, some industrial action will now commence.

“We have communicated alternative arrangements with parents and carers, particularly where the school will be closed to some year groups and will provide the necessary support and resource to minimise disruption to teaching and learning.

“The wellbeing of both students and staff is a key priority for the Trust and we will continue working closely with union representatives to identify pragmatic and innovative solutions to resolve the situation and reach a negotiated settlement as soon as possible.”

Many people have been supportive of the strike action, but a number of parents were left angry when they were only notified by the school that it would not be open to Years 9 and 10 the day before.

Kerry O’Connor Watson said: “They are striking because they care about the future of the sector, for conditions to be able to provide the education and care that parents are screaming out for.

“They are suffering financially too as they don't get paid on strike.

“Nobody wants this to happen but, in my humble opinion, we should be supporting them to stand up to these businesses masquerading as schools so that our kids get what they deserve.

“They're taking action for the things that parents are moaning on social media about.

“They get moaned at by parents who don't realise decisions are way out of their hands.”