TEACHERS at a Bowdon primary school in the midst of a leadership row are to strike on Thursday in a dispute over workloads.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) announced that up to 19 members will join the industrial action at Bollin Primary School on February 23 in a bid to overcome “excessive scrutiny and an obsession with data management”.

It is claimed 14 teachers have been working to rule since November.

Meanwhile, council chiefs have issued a formal warning notice to governors at the school over concerns a “serious breakdown” in the way the school is run is putting standards of performance in jeopardy.

In a notice issued Thursday February 16, Jill Colbert, corporate director for Children, Families and Wellbeing at Trafford Council, said there was clear evidence that numerous grievances from staff have not been dealt with by the governing body.

She also stated that numerous complaints from parents have not been responded to in a “timely and appropriate manner”.

The formal warning notice gives the council the power to intervene if the school does not comply with all of its requirements.

More than 750 supporters have also got behind a parent-led petition against headteacher Michelle Brindle – calling for her to be removed from her post over concerns about her management and leadership.

However, another petition was launched earlier today in support of the head, with 36 signing it so far.  

Bollin Positive Parents set up the "We have confidence in our Headteacher at the Bollin Primary School to lead our school" petition, with signatories including former colleagues and parents of children at the school. 

Speaking about Thursday's strike, Peter Middleman, NUT Regional Secretary for the North West Region, said: “The dispute at Bollin Primary is regrettable in that it is wholly avoidable. Staff have been raising legitimate concerns since last autumn about workloads, excessive scrutiny and an obsession with the capture and manipulation of data relating to pupil progress which has become a significant impediment to good teaching and learning.

“In talks with governors at the school, and with the local authority, we were able to make promising early progress but this has regressed since the team of governors has been gradually replaced, some more than once, since December.

"That lack of continuity in governance has contributed to a deterioration in industrial relations and with no prospect of a resolution of the main issues, members have chosen to exercise their right to strike. We stand ready to resume meaningful talks and would urge the school’s leadership to listen to the views of dedicated teachers.”

The chair of governors at Bollin Primary School, Tony Field, said: “The newly elected governing body of the Bollin Primary School acknowledges that there is a backlog of paperwork which was inherited from the previous governing body. We are working through each individual case and plan to have all outstanding issues resolved as soon as possible.” 

The union will call further strikes on March 8, 9, 21, 22 and 23 March if there is no early resolution of their concerns.