Teachers at a primary school in Bristol are set to strike for six days next month, citing a 'toxic management culture of fear and bullying' and allegations of 'racist bullying' of staff. The National Education Union (NEU) members at May Park Primary School in Eastville will walk out on March 3 and have additional strike days planned throughout the first half of March. The teachers claim that the school's management uses 'racist tropes' and that there is a pervasive 'culture of fear and bullying'. A spokesperson for the NEU teachers at May Park stated, 'Our members report being harassed and bullied by certain elements of the school leadership. Members have also complained about management using racist tropes when recording concerns about staff, and black members of staff being put under undue scrutiny and held to different standards to other colleagues.' The union has repeatedly raised these issues in negotiations, but the employer's response was deemed insufficient. The teachers feel genuinely scared of being targeted if they speak out or raise concerns, and they want to be treated with respect and not subjected to intimidation and bullying. The Excalibur Academies Trust, which runs the school, has been notified of the intended industrial action and has stated that they take the concerns raised extremely seriously. They are working to resolve the dispute and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for children. The school's principal, Emma Tovey, assures that the leadership will continue to work constructively with all parties to avoid disruption for pupils. The trust plans to communicate the impact of the strike on children's education to parents by the end of tomorrow, Thursday, ahead of the first strike day.
