A deal has been struck between school staff and an academy where teachers have been striking over pupils’ threats and violence.
Staff at Oasis Academy, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, had been on strike for three days demanding a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour after months of concerns about safety.
Further days of action have been halted because an agreement has been reached to tackle unacceptable pupil behaviour including physical and verbal assaults at the secondary school and sixth form.
The National Education Union (NEU) said its members had voted to accept the offer, which includes £500,000 for additional behaviour specialist staff, a minimum of five days’ exclusion for assaults and threats against staff, and a behaviour and safety working group between the union and academy trust.
NEU regional secretary Maria Fawcett said: “I am pleased that progress has been made in negotiations and that this has given members some confidence that things will start to improve at their school.
“The employer has made several promises and members have now put their trust in Oasis to deliver a safe and acceptable working and learning environment.
“Members rightly expect rapid improvements to be made and they have made clear that further action will result if promised improvements in behaviour and safety do not take place.”
