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Birmingham teachers on strike over 'violent threats' Starbank school teachers strike over violence fears
(32 minutes later)
Teachers have gone on strike over concerns about violence and threats from pupils. Teachers have gone on strike over concerns about violence and knife threats from pupils.
Some staff at Starbank Secondary School in Birmingham said they received little support from bosses in confronting the badly behaved pupils. Some staff at Starbank Secondary School in Birmingham said they received little support from bosses in confronting badly-behaved pupils.
A teaching union says a "knife audit" needs to take place, along with risk assessments for teachers and a behaviour policy for pupils.A teaching union says a "knife audit" needs to take place, along with risk assessments for teachers and a behaviour policy for pupils.
The school has been contacted for a comment. Birmingham City Council said it was in discussions with trade unions.
Birmingham City Council said "conversations are ongoing with trade unions over concerns raised" and that "suitable provision has been made to ensure that lessons will continue" during the two-day strike. It added that "suitable provision has been made to ensure that lessons will continue" during the two-day strike.
Paul Nesbitt, National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) national executive member for the West Midlands, said the union had been negotiating with the school for some time. About 30 teachers took to the picket line at the school, while other teaching unions called off their action earlier.
Paul Nesbitt, from the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), said the union had been negotiating with the school for some time.
He also said staff had informed him about violence from pupils and threats.He also said staff had informed him about violence from pupils and threats.
He said: "Sufficient practical steps have not been taken to ensure poor behaviour is addressed and that teachers are supported in maintaining good order in the classroom". In one incident, the union said, a teacher was threatened to be hurt with a knife. The pupil was excluded for a number of days but later returned to the school.
"She was quite taken aback this pupil had threatened to hurt her with a weapon and then to find them back in the school. Obviously that's a worry for them", Mr Nesbitt said.
Another teacher also suffered a "split lip" after being hit by a year seven pupil last year, the union said.
"We were informed a year seven pupil hit a teacher in the mouth that led to a split lip.
"When we did have discussions with the authority and with the school we were taken aback by finding out that, even though the school was aware that they have students causing serious issues, there's no risk assessment being carried out on these pupils" Mr Nesbitt said.
"Sufficient practical steps have not been taken to ensure poor behaviour is addressed and that teachers are supported in maintaining good order in the classroom."
He added that teachers at the school on Hob Moor Road had been left with "little choice" but to embark on two days of planned action.He added that teachers at the school on Hob Moor Road had been left with "little choice" but to embark on two days of planned action.
A safeguarding review has been carried out by the local authority, the union said, and staff are awaiting the results. A safeguarding review has been carried out by the local authority, the union said, and staff were awaiting the results.
"We want training for members on how to deal with these situations and a knife audit", Mr Nesbitt said. "We want training for members on how to deal with these situations and a knife audit," Mr Nesbitt said.
"We've asked the school to come up with a behaviour policy which looks after children and our members.""We've asked the school to come up with a behaviour policy which looks after children and our members."
The school has been contacted for a comment.
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