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11:40am Thursday 7th April 2011 in Darwen
By Nafeesa Shan, Reporter
MORE than 60 disgruntled teachers are protesting outside Darwen Vale High School this morning.
The NUT and NASUWT members at the school demonstrated after claiming management had failured to back up disciplinary actions against unruly pupils.
Cars honked their horns in support of the action as they drove passed the Holden Fold site.
Staff began protesting at 7.30am. Members of the National Union of Teachers met with the school’s bosses yesterday as they tried to avert action.
But last night the staff said they remained unsatisfied and the industrial action would continue as planned, closing the school for a day.
Last week a ballot revealed that members of the NUT and the NASUWT voted overwhelmingly to take strike action to protest against the management’s failure to support staff in dealing with challenging pupil behaviour.
The dispute is supported by members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the support staff’s union, UNISON.
NUT national executive and Blackburn with Darwen representative Simon Jones, manning the picket line, said: "We are delighted with the turnout and the support we are receiving.
"This is not a strike against pupils. It is about management, and management failure to support staff in dealing with challenging behaviour.
"No one wants to demonise the children here, they are no better or no worse than any other.
"The biggest difference between this school and other schools is the management failure to support staff."
He said negotiations would resume after the Easter holidays and it was hoped that further strike action can be avoided.
He said: “Members are taking strike action as a last resort because of the headteacher’s continued denials that there is a problem with pupil behaviour in the school.
"And her refusal to engage properly with staff and unions to find effective solutions to these challenges.”
Hilary Torpey, headteacher of Darwen Vale High School, said: “My main priority is around the wellbeing and education of our pupils and the best interests of the school.
"I want to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
“I am disappointed that the trade unions have chosen to take this action.
"The vast majority of pupils at Darwen Vale behave well and take their education seriously.
“We are in discussions with the unions and with the staff around how we can best resolve this situation so that staff feel well supported when they do need to deal with behaviour issues.”
Outside the school this morning, Harry Devonport, director of education at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, suggested the teachers had been hasty in going out on strike.
"I am very disappointed that, so quickly, teachers have felt the need to take strike action," he said.
"There has only been two meetings to discuss this. The council is working hard to bring the leadership of the school, together with the unions, to clarify what needs to be done."
Click on the links below for our video, photo gallery and previous stories on the Darwen Vale strike.
Comments(71)
Teacher10
says...
7:02pm Wed 6 Apr 11
Teacher10
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7:02pm Wed 6 Apr 11
george69
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8:01pm Wed 6 Apr 11
masterdebater.co.uk
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8:25pm Wed 6 Apr 11
Mary Queen of Spots
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8:32pm Wed 6 Apr 11
happycyclist
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10:47pm Wed 6 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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10:47pm Wed 6 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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10:49pm Wed 6 Apr 11
hasslem hasslem
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11:18pm Wed 6 Apr 11
Dai Darwen wrote:old chap - its the head not cracking the whip....that's the problem.
Something not just right here as I stated in the last forum. Last weekit was because of unruly pupils according to the LET. This week it is for the lack of backing by management. Could it be the head is cracking the whip and the teachers do not like it or just a clash of personalities. If so called well educated pillars of society cannot get round a table and thrash out a solution then there is little hope for the less well educated. Complete joke.
Graham Hartley
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11:22pm Wed 6 Apr 11
vocalandtrue
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11:39pm Wed 6 Apr 11
red rose 2
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12:13am Thu 7 Apr 11
happycyclist wrote:well said happycyclist: -
They were discussing this on 5-Live radio this morning, from 10.00am. Simon Huggill, councillor and governor, went on national radio and claimed that because the school is built on a hill, it gets lashed with bad weather and that's what makes the pupils disruptive. Class.
useyourhead
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1:38am Thu 7 Apr 11
Graham Hartley wrote:you would say that
Noswaith dda, Dai!
imp79
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7:19am Thu 7 Apr 11
Bat E Karen
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7:55am Thu 7 Apr 11
HU
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9:12am Thu 7 Apr 11
611b
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9:18am Thu 7 Apr 11
up_norf
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9:29am Thu 7 Apr 11
midas
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9:34am Thu 7 Apr 11
Teacher10 wrote:An allegation can only be found to be false after it has been investigated.
“My main priority is around the wellbeing and education of our pupils and the best interests of the school. "I want to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. “I am disappointed that the trade unions have chosen to take this action. Hilary Horpey Ms Torpey has no concerns for her staff whilst she is putting them through disciplinary procedures as a result of false allegations by pupils. She continues to waste hours of the management's time, as well as that of personnel staff, parents and pupils. what kind of headteacher believes there is substance to ludicrous allegations by unruly pupils over the word of professional, reliable adults. The trade unions have decided to take this action because it is the action 95 percent of the teaching staff want to take. Why should staff put up with this kind of lack of support? There is no exaggeration about the scale of the problem at this school. The incompetence of the management of this school needs to be exposed through the national news!
teachit
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9:54am Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen wrote:Did you take the time to read the reports properly?
Something not just right here as I stated in the last forum. Last weekit was because of unruly pupils according to the LET. This week it is for the lack of backing by management. Could it be the head is cracking the whip and the teachers do not like it or just a clash of personalities. If so called well educated pillars of society cannot get round a table and thrash out a solution then there is little hope for the less well educated. Complete joke.
teachit
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9:55am Thu 7 Apr 11
ant-darwen
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10:44am Thu 7 Apr 11
OBT2
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11:01am Thu 7 Apr 11
teachit wrote:Well said teachit. It really annoys me that when things like this happen its always because we 'want time off' and in this case to study the form for Aintree and the Ryder Cup.
Did you take the time to read the reports properly? The staff want to strike because of the behaviour of the pupils AND the lack of support from the Head when they try to do something about the behaviour. How many hours do you work a week? You obviously have time to study the racing forms- teachers spend alot of their time marking and writing detailed lesson plans.
emma.mi
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11:11am Thu 7 Apr 11
OBT2
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11:26am Thu 7 Apr 11
emma.mi wrote:Im not sure i understand the point of this post???
At the last Ofsted inspection in June 2010, the Darwen Vale school was rated as a good school where behavior, the study and performance of pupils is considered positive. A strike organized by professors creates difficulties for pupils and above inconvenience.Curren tly, pupils are being taught temporarily at former Holden Fold school buildings, which have a capacity of only 800 Reopen the school, students must have the option of continuing their studies. http://www.petitiono nline.co.uk/petition /reopen-the-school-d arwen-vale/2657
mikebuk
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12:01pm Thu 7 Apr 11
gudari
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12:05pm Thu 7 Apr 11
HU wrote:Well done to the teachers and staff at DV! This lack of discipline all comes down to bad parenting and until something is done to target the parents of unruly schoolchildren, I can only see the problem becoming worse. Obviously, not all the students at DV are unruly but if teachers spend most of their time on crowd control rather than teaching the majority who want to progress, their teaching becomes less effective and everyone suffers as a result. In order for teachers to weed out the troublemakers, there needs to be support from the Head and governors which does not exist there.
the Kids need to be taught some respect
I blame the parents and upbringing!
gudari
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12:14pm Thu 7 Apr 11
mikebuk wrote:Mikebuk, You are obviously part of the problem! Kids have some rights but they have far more duties. Remember that word? DUTY? It is one that has sadly been forgotten by a lot of children, parents and lawmakers today. If I don't work, I don't get paid. Why should it be different for kids? They need to understand that duty comes before rights. Simple!
Teachers who are totally incapable to hold their audience should be fired. Don't blame the kids, boredom is a killer and causes frustration, hence people will play up.
HU
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12:28pm Thu 7 Apr 11
gudari wrote:Very true Gudari
HU wrote:Well done to the teachers and staff at DV! This lack of discipline all comes down to bad parenting and until something is done to target the parents of unruly schoolchildren, I can only see the problem becoming worse. Obviously, not all the students at DV are unruly but if teachers spend most of their time on crowd control rather than teaching the majority who want to progress, their teaching becomes less effective and everyone suffers as a result. In order for teachers to weed out the troublemakers, there needs to be support from the Head and governors which does not exist there.
the Kids need to be taught some respect
I blame the parents and upbringing!
GrindletonBob
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12:48pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Slimplynth
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1:03pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Excluded again
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1:06pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Gerrard10
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1:31pm Thu 7 Apr 11
rovers2008
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1:38pm Thu 7 Apr 11
burner
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2:02pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Gerrard10 wrote:Bring back punctuation. Why? . . . . 'cos, Gerard, this drivel is hard to read. Wuz yoo eddukated their?
to be quite honest it is getting beyond a joke i dont find it fair that the year 11 pupils are missing out on there revision as when we go back after the easter hols we have our exams how do you find this fair i think that mrs torpey should leave and mr lawson should come back i think that we have all dealt with having 3 different head teachers in the past 3 years and the move and stuff but you just need to give us all a chance we are all getting tared with the same brush which i find unfair if you was too ask any pupil from vale they would tell you that there is nothing wrong with the school it is just the same as any other we are getting the education that we need this year we are expected to get the best grades well how do you expect us to do that and darwen vale is going to be labeled with a bad name so we are going to look like the bad guys we are just trying to get used to the new school bring john lawson back
donut1
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2:16pm Thu 7 Apr 11
donut1
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2:17pm Thu 7 Apr 11
hannah55
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2:41pm Thu 7 Apr 11
kate11
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2:47pm Thu 7 Apr 11
hannah55
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2:55pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Darwen Mum
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2:56pm Thu 7 Apr 11
imp79
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3:10pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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3:33pm Thu 7 Apr 11
teachit wrote:Dai Darwen wrote:
Dai Darwen wrote: Something not just right here as I stated in the last forum. Last weekit was because of unruly pupils according to the LET. This week it is for the lack of backing by management. Could it be the head is cracking the whip and the teachers do not like it or just a clash of personalities. If so called well educated pillars of society cannot get round a table and thrash out a solution then there is little hope for the less well educated. Complete joke.Did you take the time to read the reports properly? The staff want to strike because of the behaviour of the pupils AND the lack of support from the Head when they try to do something about the behaviour. How many hours do you work a week? You obviously have time to study the racing forms- teachers spend alot of their time marking and writing detailed lesson plans.
kate11
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3:39pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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3:41pm Thu 7 Apr 11
teachit wrote:teachit.blackburn Just to give you a little more information I am entitled to 26 days holiday per year. If you are or have been a teacher I wonder how that would compare to your entitlement.
Dai Darwen wrote: Something not just right here as I stated in the last forum. Last weekit was because of unruly pupils according to the LET. This week it is for the lack of backing by management. Could it be the head is cracking the whip and the teachers do not like it or just a clash of personalities. If so called well educated pillars of society cannot get round a table and thrash out a solution then there is little hope for the less well educated. Complete joke.Did you take the time to read the reports properly? The staff want to strike because of the behaviour of the pupils AND the lack of support from the Head when they try to do something about the behaviour. How many hours do you work a week? You obviously have time to study the racing forms- teachers spend alot of their time marking and writing detailed lesson plans.
kate11
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4:02pm Thu 7 Apr 11
burner
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4:04pm Thu 7 Apr 11
MJT
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5:05pm Thu 7 Apr 11
teachit
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5:14pm Thu 7 Apr 11
mikebuk wrote:If SOME of the children had a proper up-bringing then the MAJORITY of children would have an excellent education. Lessons are well planned and teachers put in 100% effort to implement them!
Teachers who are totally incapable to hold their audience should be fired. Don't blame the kids, boredom is a killer and causes frustration, hence people will play up.
Diogenes The Cynic
says...
5:19pm Thu 7 Apr 11
kate11 wrote:Umm.. I worked in a school many years ago - and during the holidays it was locked tight.
Excuse me Dai Darwen but are you suggesting that teachers get a lot of holidays!! I would have thought the same as you until my daughter became a teacher and I have now completely changed that opinion. My daughter works from 8-6pm in school and also approx 4 hours every evening marking and preparing lessons! She has Friday evening off and then works some of the weekend and is paid for 37 hours!! She buys a lot of her materials for the class out of her own money!! She goes in during the holdays to prepare the class displays and planning also and out of the 5 week summer hols she went in to school for about 2 weeks. Half term she spent preparing lessons and changing displays!!
Do you have a job which demands that you work outside your hours or that you do not get paid overtime or that you have demands placed on you by headteachers during holidays??
If not then I think you are not in a position to comment!
Dai Darwen
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5:26pm Thu 7 Apr 11
kate11
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5:30pm Thu 7 Apr 11
kate11
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5:37pm Thu 7 Apr 11
burner
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5:40pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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5:49pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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6:10pm Thu 7 Apr 11
burner wrote:burner.blackburn Sorry but the doughnut !!!!!! is on you. There are people who work through the night, ergo have their free time during the day after doing their work. I will say again please obtain facts before condemning people. Mouth and brain springs to mind.
". I notice though that you quote other people being the teachers and not yourselves. " - Dai, teachers will get to their recreational computers, UNLIKE SUPPOSEDLY HARD-WORKING YOU, after they have done their work much later tonight - doughnut !!! Sorry, did I wake you up?
burner
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6:11pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Dai Darwen
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6:21pm Thu 7 Apr 11
netty123
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6:23pm Thu 7 Apr 11
hannah55 wrote:the head should be investigated, if more than 3 teachers have complained and she has done nothing to sort it, then under the equality act 2010 she should be done for vicarious liability!!! i also blame the parents, respect starts in the home!!!
Darwen, Unfortunately I don't think this is a one-off. I teach in Scotland and this is a big problem here in certain areas too. The difference with these teachers is that they have had enough and decided it's time to let the public see their difficulties. Such a shame that some of the public will see fit to turn it round and blame the teachers! Surely everyone can see these are the actions of desperate people who have tried everything to NOT get to this stage. I know how helpless and depressed you can get when management throw it all back to you when you have tried all the accepted strategies, refer the problem to them and they say they think you could do more. Time and time again. When was the last time teachers went on strike? Things have to be very bad for that to happen. We have a responsibility to children and we take that very seriously therefore strike action is the LAST thing teachers will do. How about putting the blame at the feet of the right people - those who set the discipline procedures? It's like blaming the police when criminals get a soft sentence.
netty123
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6:39pm Thu 7 Apr 11
MJT wrote:the teachers are totally in their rights to strike!!! good on you all for sticking together, management love to get you in the office on a 1 to 1, and making you believe you are in the wrong!!! collective action is great!!
It must be great to be a nasty teenager these days. Going to school when you want, indulging in anti-social behaviour with your mates, trying to cause nervous breakdowns in well-meaning teachers, and spoiling the learning experience for everyone else, getting involved with illegal activity - knowing all the while that no one can lay a finger on you. Come on, Britain, is this the kind of scum we want to create a heaven for?! If their parents can't be bothered to give them proper moral values, arm society to deal with them, rather than pretending they're made of china. Teachers need a deterrent. Simple as.
ExColl
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7:24pm Thu 7 Apr 11
burner
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7:24pm Thu 7 Apr 11
HILLBILLYBOB
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7:27pm Thu 7 Apr 11
paulc
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7:43pm Thu 7 Apr 11
mikebuk wrote:"Teachers who are totally incapable to hold their audience should be fired. Don't blame the kids, boredom is a killer and causes frustration, hence people will play up."
Teachers who are totally incapable to hold their audience should be fired. Don't blame the kids, boredom is a killer and causes frustration, hence people will play up.
dotcomedy101
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7:53pm Thu 7 Apr 11
Spanishblue
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9:03pm Thu 7 Apr 11
HILLBILLYBOB
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9:41pm Thu 7 Apr 11
tpreece01
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8:14am Fri 8 Apr 11
roverspal
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1:25pm Fri 8 Apr 11
happycyclist wrote:I have two sons and I expect nothing but perfect behaviour from them and obedience to teachers.. and I don't expect the teachers to return "respect" back to them but to educate them.. and if the case ever arises to even cane them...
They were discussing this on 5-Live radio this morning, from 10.00am.
Simon Huggill, councillor and governor, went on national radio and claimed that because the school is built on a hill, it gets lashed with bad weather and that's what makes the pupils disruptive.
Class.
Lifeinthemix
says...
11:17am Wed 13 Apr 11
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chris283 says...
6:56pm Wed 6 Apr 11