Parents at an outstanding London girls’ school have warned they fear for their children’s mental health and GCSE results because of strike action by teachers.
National Education Union (NEU) members at St Ursula’s Convent School in Greenwich are striking on Wednesday and Thursday in protest at the suspension of a colleague. This week will see the 13th day of strike action since November.
Parents say children are being damaged by the walkouts, which come after five days of national teacher strikes over pay last year, and months of school closures during the pandemic.
One parent told the Standard: “Is one teacher’s suspension ever a good trade for the education of an entire secondary school?”
The row was sparked after the school’s long-standing NEU rep, named publicly as head of history Alex Turpie by the NEU, was suspended.
NEU members went on strike demanding an independent investigation, which was granted. It is believed the NEU now wants Mr Turpie to be reinstated while the investigation takes place.
The reasons for his suspension have not been made public. The NEU wrote on Twitter: “It’s not possible to disclose information legally about the nature of the allegations against Mr Turpie.
