Barrow Primary School Staff Announce Two-Day Strike Over Pay And Working Conditions
Staff at a Barrow primary school are set to stage a two-day strike next week following an unresolved dispute over additional workloads and pay.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School will walk out on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November. Picket lines are expected outside the school between 8am and 9am on both mornings. The industrial action follows more than three years of disruption after the school's original building was declared unsafe.
The school was evacuated in January 2023 after an inspection identified serious problems with the condition of its floor, which was considered at risk of collapse. Since then, staff have continued delivering education through temporary arrangements involving different sites. The unions say this has created additional demands, requiring employees to take on responsibilities beyond their usual roles and work extra hours to maintain educational provision for pupils.
The unions argue that employees have made considerable efforts to keep the school operating despite the challenges. They say staff have worked beyond their contractual hours, taken on additional administrative and operational duties and adapted to the difficulties of split-site arrangements. They also believe the prolonged disruption has affected staff wellbeing and created challenges for pupils, who have experienced an extended period without access to their original school building.
Before the latest planned action, the unions and Mater Christi Multi Academy Trust had reached an agreement covering several measures intended to improve working conditions and support pupils. However, union representatives say important commitments remain outstanding. These include a joint review of curriculum resources and investment needs, an assessment of the administrative and compliance responsibilities undertaken by staff, and a plan to address the educational consequences of operating across multiple sites with a reduced school day.
A further disagreement concerns compensation for additional hours worked by employees beyond their contractual arrangements. The unions say the trust has maintained that no further payment is due. Discussions facilitated through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) have now been paused, with both unions saying the trust's position on additional payments has not changed despite attempts to reach an agreement.
Mater Christi Multi Academy Trust said it was disappointed that industrial action was going ahead and had hoped the dispute could have been resolved without further disruption. The trust said it had addressed all the issues raised by the unions apart from a request for additional payment to a small group of staff. It argued that the exceptional demands had already been recognised through pay enhancements and support measures costing more than £1 million.
The trust also said it had to consider the financial implications of any further commitments because it supports 16 schools and 614 members of staff. It maintained that payments must be fair, consistent and compliant with the rules governing public funds. The organisation said it remained committed to dialogue and hoped further discussions could produce a resolution that considered the circumstances of Sacred Heart while taking account of its wider responsibilities.
The planned action is expected to involve senior representatives from both unions. NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman is due to join staff on the picket line on Monday, while NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede is expected to visit on Tuesday alongside regional officials. The unions say they remain willing to resume discussions through ACAS and have warned that further strike dates could be considered if the dispute continues.
The school is expected to close to pupils on both strike days. The trust has said arrangements will be made to provide food for children who are entitled to free school meals. Both sides have acknowledged the disruption experienced by families and pupils, while maintaining different positions over the outstanding payment dispute. The immediate focus remains on the planned walkout and whether further negotiations can secure an agreement.
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