MORE strikes are planned at a Blackburn school this week which is embroiled in an on-going dispute with teaching staff over performance related pay.

The dispute at Pleckgate High School appeared to have been resolved after bosses and teaching union NASUWT came to an agreement after weeks of walk-outs at the beginning of the year.

However the row sparked up again last month following the outcome of an appeals process on teacher pay and targets with six teachers reportedly turned down for pay awards.

In a further twist teachers belonging to separate unions have expressed their concern at the strike action of fellow teachers saying they don’t feel ‘industrial action is appropriate’.

In an open letter aimed at members of the NASUWT, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), which have around 50 members at Pleckgate, said they wanted to reassure the community that the vast majority of teachers are in the school and teaching students.

It said: “Whilst our members can understand the concerns of some of our colleagues we do support the Education Partnership Trust, the headteacher and the performance management policy.

“We feel that this has been applied consistently to all staff.”

They added they felt it was a national rather than school issue and ‘don’t feel that industrial action is appropriate’.

In a letter to its members, Claire Ward, Blackburn with Darwen negotiating secretary for the NASUWT, said the trust has shown a ‘blatant disregard’ for teachers’ contracts and were ‘reluctant to resolve the situation’.

She said: “I know that it is very difficult for you, especially with the attitude you are facing from some of your sister TU colleagues, but you must remember that you are asking for nothing more than your contracts to be honoured and your commitment and dedication to the pupils to be acknowledged.”

Further walk-outs are planned on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A spokesman for the school said the strike was ‘unnecessary’ and ‘it was disappointing that the NASUWT has chosen to take further industrial action, despite further meaningful talks taking place’.

He said: “However, we cannot agree to anything that may compromise on educational standards and impact our ability to deliver for the young people and community we serve.

Our priority is to provide a first-class education to every single student.”