Teachers from St Catherine's Catholic school went on strike yesterday after claims of bullying behaviour.

Debbie Jones, Bexley District Secretary of NEU confirmed that staff had reluctantly voted to take strike action following repeated arbitrary and bullying behaviour by the Head Teacher.

She said that these actions included breaching promises on confidential information, ignoring staff views, banning trade union meetings, suspending staff (including the NEU rep without good reason), sacking an employee without recourse to any disciplinary investigation or due process.

She continued: "The NEU have sought regular meetings with the school governors, but so far these have not been arranged.

"Members have repeatedly raised their concerns with governors who have failed to take swift, appropriate and effective action. Now teachers and support staff have no confidence in the Head Teacher to conduct the management of the school in a fair or reasonable way."

The members of the union want to make it clear that as teachers of young people they must make it clear how important it is to stand up to bullying in all its forms.

The vote to take strike action was overwhelming. NEU members voted by 55 to just 3 to stop work.

Debbie Jones said: “Most NEU members at St Catherine’s have never taken strike action before and we very much regret the disruption this will cause to the students’ education.

"However, our members have been forced to take action as a last resort because of a prolonged campaign of bullying and arbitrary behaviour by the Head Teacher. What was a very happy school has now become an institution with a deep culture of fear."

Further planned strike days include: 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th and 14th of November.

A spokesman from St Catherine's said: "Governors at St Catherine’s have had to follow the disciplinary process and suspend some members of staff. Investigations are being carried out independently of the school to ensure fairness. These matters are ongoing and confidential. The school cannot comment on the specific matters of these cases. The school met with the National Education Union at ACAS on Monday 28th October. Despite this meeting, the school is deeply disappointed that the NEU refused to call off strike action unless suspended staff were reinstated.

"Governors have a duty to ensure that serious allegations are investigated and would expect staff to accept that a process is being followed. The school has a legal and moral duty to ensure that the safety of students is our first priority and will always act in the interests of the children.

"The school is aware of the allegations being made about the Headteacher. These allegations have already been investigated by governors and found to have no basis. The Headteacher has the full support of governors, trustees, the diocese and her senior leadership team who will continue to work hard to serve the children in the school.

"St Catherine’s is an excellent school as confirmed in our Ofsted inspection in January 2019 and further supported by the government performance tables where St Catherine’s was the top school in the London Borough of Bexley for progress made by students. The school will keep parents informed of the situation but can make no further comment."