TEACHERS at Chepstow School are taking the first of eight planned days of strike action today.

Concerns have been voiced over the style of management in the school and the 'failure' of governors to address complaints.

Former head of PE Andy Clarke said there are long-standing issues which have not been addressed.

Mr Clarke said: "There are two main issues. One is the style of management which the union has no confidence in, and the other is the refusal of governors to investigate complaints."

Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union are taking part in the strike.

Chris Keates, general secretary, said the union had made attempts to resolve the situation but was forced to withdraw "when it became apparent that the governing body was going to treat the concerns as individual grievances rather than accepting that there was a collective issue at the school."

He added: "The action being taken at Chepstow Comprehensive School is in protest over the repeated failure of the governing body to effectively address long-standing issues over the way in which the school is being managed."

Rex Phillips, NASUWT National Official Wales, said: "Our members have had enough of the punitive management practices which have become part of the culture at Chepstow Comprehensive School.

"They feel undervalued, unsupported and disenfranchised from the decision making processes within the school.

"It is not acceptable for teachers to work in a climate of fear and there needs to be a return to a management approach based on collegiality and cooperation.

"The NASUWT remains willing to engage with the employer to work towards this objective."

Craig Bridgeman, chair of governors at the school, said: "We are very disappointed that strike action is being threatened by one of the four teacher unions at our school.

"Last July the NASUWT informed the governors that they intended to take out a grievance against the management of the school. The chair of governors met informally with a group of teachers in November to try to discuss their issues. The governors established a formal procedure to listen to the group complaint, but no detail has been given to the governors in the five months since the procedure was put in place, last November.

"We are still hopeful that worthwhile discussions may happen that will resolve this situation as soon as possible. The school’s aim is to safeguard the education of all the young people we serve.

"The school will continue to focus on giving our students the best possible educational experiences and to ensure that all staff fulfil this duty in a professional and effective manner. We always seek to maintain good working relationships with all staff. This approach has led Chepstow School to its best ever results, a balanced budget and a healthy school roll."

Cllr Richard John, cabinet member for children and young people at Monmouthshire County Council said: "It is really concerning to have industrial action in any school at any time but particularly in a secondary school in the run-up to examinations. I am disappointed that this internal dispute between the governing body and the NASUWT has not been resolved. My officers and I continue to be available to assist where we can. I hope and expect both sides to put the interests of the pupils first and to sort this out."