A DECISION on whether teachers at Chepstow Comprehensive School will strike next Wednesday (9th May) is to be made at a meeting on Friday.

NASUWT union members went on strike on 17th April to protest over “adverse management practices which are having a detrimental effect on the working conditions and welfare of members”.

The strike action was held “in protest over the repeated failure of the governing body to effectively address long-standing issues over the way in which the school is being managed,” according to general secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates.

A second strike was scheduled for last Thursday (26th April) but was cancelled as a “good will gesture”, with a meeting held between the union and the board of governors. On the same day another meeting was held between the board of governors and parents of children at the school.

Particular concerns include the use of supply teachers, with reports of classes having a number of cover teachers in one day.

Last year’s Estyn inspection report highlighted four of the five key areas at Chepstow School were ‘adequate but needed improvement’, including improving pupil behaviour, quality of teaching and improving “the quality, distribution and impact of leadership at all levels.”

The school was tasked with drawing up an action plan, showing how it planned to address the recommendations.

According to the report the number of pupils on roll at the school had fallen slightly since the previous inspection to 977 including 220 in the sixth form.

Rex Phillips, NASUWT National Official Wales said: “The meeting organised under the aegis of ACAS was positive and a further meeting has been arranged, provisionally for Friday 18th May, which will include representatives of the school governing body as well as the Monmouthshire authority.

“We will be meeting with members this Friday to consider the action planned for Wednesday 9th May.”

Further strike action is currently planned for 24th May, 12th and 28th June and 11th and 17th July.