Teachers strike at Sheffield primary school in row over 'imposed changes to policy, workload, stress and management practices'

National Education Union members on the picket line outside Westways Primary School, in Crookes

Teachers and support staff have gone on strike at a primary school in Sheffield.

Staff walked out at Westways Primary School, in Crookes, this morning over changes made by the school's executive headteacher.

It is the first of four days of planned strike action by members of the National Education Union.

The union said staff are unhappy with changes to policy, workload and management practices which they claim were introduced without consultation by executive headteacher Sam Fearnehough, who was brought in at the end of the last academic year to improve standards following two poor Ofsted reports.

Staff claim this has led increased stress and a drop in morale.

Mrs Fernehough said the changes have already had a 'positive impact' and that discussions took place with senior leader and teaching staff about a range of improvements.

She added that the 'majority of staff' are happy with the changes and do not support the strike action.

Teachers and support staff were joined on the picket line by parents and children from the school, which remained open to two-third of pupils.

National Education Union members are unhappy with changes introduced at the school

Year three teacher Helen Waterman said union members just wanted to be listened to.

She said: "All we want is to feel like we are being treated like professional teachers and we can have a say in developing the curriculum in the right way so we feel ownership of it rather than just being dictated to."

She added that teachers felt they are being 'asked to teach to test' and the curriculum had been narrowed to focus more on English and maths.

"We never wanted it to come to a strike," said Mrs Waterman, a teacher at the school of 20 years.

Parent Francyne Johnson, who set up a petition in support of the teachers, on the picket line

"We never wanted to disrupt the education of the children but we feel it's so important that we keep the curriculum at Westways."

Dave Pike, regional officer for the NEU, said the union members had been trying to negotiate with leaders at the school since June.

"We are now in December. All the members want is to be listened to.

"Our members feel they have been ignored and not being listened to and that is all that is needed here."