Teachers angry with the academy trust which runs their Cornish school say they have had enough. The National Education Union (NEU) has announced that 98 per cent of teachers at Newquay Tretherras have voted to go on strike if the new boss of the Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT), which runs the large secondary school in the seaside town, does not sort things out.

The NEU members said 56 teachers at the school have lost patience with the CELT multi-academy trust (MAT) which they say is not respecting many aspects of the school teachers pay and conditions document (STPCD). The union said the ongoing issues at the CELT MAT is now leading teachers to leave the profession they love and enough is enough.

Branch secretary Ian Williams said: "Our members have tried for months to resolve these issues, but the MAT has not been listening. The STPCD is approved by Parliament annually. There is a huge recruitment and retention crisis in education and yet this MAT is driving teachers away from the jobs they love. Our members are not prepared to accept this anymore."

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He added: "The resolution is simple: adopt fair policies and procedures. Our reps and officers remain willing to negotiate at all times."

The CELT MAT runs Bodmin College, Brannel School, Carclaze CP School near St Austell, Fowey Primary School, Lostwithiel Primary School, Luxulyan School, Mevagissey Primary School, Mount Charles School at St Austell, Newquay Junior Academy, Newquay Primary Academy, Newquay Tretherras School, CELT Sixth Cornwall, Penrice Academy and Poltair School at St Austell, Pondhu Primary School at St Austell, Port Isaac Academy and St Mewan CP School.

Mr Williams said that the current CEO of the trust, Lisa Mannall, is leaving at the end of the year and will be replaced from January by Dan Morrow, chief executive of the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, which has two colleges in Tavistock and Okehampton in Devon.

If the situation cannot be resolved satisfactorily, the NEU has announced that the first proposed strike dates would be Friday, February 7, then Tuesday, February 11, and Wednesday, February 12, with potentially Wednesday, February 26, Thursday, February 27, and Friday, February 28, also on the list.

Mr Williams added: "The NEU is confident that with the new CEO Dan Morrow in place, we will be able to resolve these issues and avoid strikes. The last thing that NEU members want to do is to be striking, but they are determined to create a safe, happy, creative and enriching environment for all the children at Newquay Tretherras.

"Perhaps a New Year’s resolution for CELT might be to listen to, respect and care for the pupils and teachers in the MAT?"

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “Striking is the right of every teacher who is part of a union and is a personal choice which we respect as an academy and Trust. However, this indicative vote - rather than a formal strike ballot - was undertaken prior to several meetings we have held with staff and leadership teams across the Trust.

“We take all feedback incredibly seriously and are committed to ensuring staff feel supported, motivated and rewarded. We ensure compliance with the STPCD where applicable and have actively been engaging with staff and the NEU to address concerns raised. We will continue this constructive dialogue into the New Year to enable us to resolve any issues and ensure we continue meeting the best possible outcomes for our schools, employees and pupils."

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