The “toxic culture” at a Dumfries high school could lead to staff members walking out, union chiefs have warned.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teachers’ union says that strike action is a real threat at North West Community Campus due to issues around poor decision making and failures by management at the school for years.
The union has also slammed Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education bosses for failing to take decisive action – even after a vote of no confidence in the school’s management this summer.
The vote of no confidence was submitted by secondary teachers on July 1, and it took 100 days before the council’s education department issued what was described as a “weak response”.
Andrew O’Halloran, secretary of the Dumfries and Galloway branch of the EIS, said: “We are deeply disappointed at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s failure to respond adequately to the vote of no confidence.
“We have raised serious issues regarding a toxic culture, poor decision making and failures by senior management at the school time and time again over several years, but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
“The council has left our members no choice other than to consider industrial action to challenge the toxic culture within the school.
“Our members in the school are suffering from low morale and are at the end of their tether.
“They feel demoralised by the lack of action.”
The North West Community Campus opened its doors as a brand new facility in 2018, replacing Lochside and St Ninian’s Primaries, Maxwelltown High School and Langlands special
school.
It was forced to shut just a few weeks later due to health and safety issues after incidents in which staff and pupils were hurt.
Pupils were finally able to return to the £28m site in April 2019.
A council spokesman said: “We are aware that the EIS have raised concerns regarding North West Community Campus.
“We have been working closely with the campus’ staff and the union for some time and will continue to do so to find a mutually agreed resolution.
“Our education and HR departments will endeavour to continue to engage with colleagues and the EIS to address any issues that are being raised at the North West Community Campus.”
It was found that more than 600 pupils from the school’s catchment area were going elsewhere.