Eleven teachers sent home from special school after refusing to teach eight pupils

Eleven teachers have been sent home without pay after they refused to teach eight additional needs pupils because they had been consistently violent towards them.

The NASWUT union has backed the teachers at Kaimes School in Liberton, Edinburgh, which provides education for 96 pupils with additional support needs so great they have not been placed in mainstream schools.

The teachers said the eight pupils had been “bullying and intimidating” staff, including conducting physical assaults.

Union representatives say the teachers have had no choice but to stop working to protect their physical and mental health.

NASWUT representatives are set to meet with education secretary John Swinney today about the situation, after negotiations with the council broke down.

Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, labelled the council’s action as “one of the most disturbing cases I have ever experienced of an employer failing in its duty of care”.

She told the Edinburgh Evening News: “The teachers, and indeed other pupils at the school have, month after month, faced violent physical assaults, a constant stream of verbal abuse and threats and malicious allegations. Equipment has been smashed and classrooms trashed.

“Rather than supporting the teachers to deal with these pupils, Edinburgh City Council instead has embarked on a campaign of aggressive and punitive actions towards the teachers, simply because they have dared to stand up for what is right.”

Edinburgh City Council said it remained committed to a “positive working environment” for both staff and pupils.

A spokesperson said: “As a local authority, we have a duty to provide education to all children in Edinburgh. We are also committed to ensuring our teachers and other staff are fully supported to deliver the excellent level of education children and young people have a right to expect.

“We continually review how we can support our teachers in what at times can be challenging places to work. An improvement action plan for Kaimes School has been developed in consultation with staff and subject to external expert scrutiny. This is in the very early stages of being implemented and would urge everyone to work with us as we take this plan forward.

“The council has been trying to engage with NASUWT at all levels to discuss any concerns they have and we are disappointed that they have failed to respond positively to date and decided on this course of action. We cannot have a situation where staff decide who they are and who they are not willing to teach as this would be contrary to their terms of employment.”