Union warns of further walk-outs

Madeley School's 18 teachers fear for their futures

A teaching union is warning there could be more strikes at a school in Telford.

Around a third of the teachers at the Madeley Court School walked out on Wednesday in a strike over possible redundancies.

They fear they may lose their jobs as part of a review being carried out by a neighbouring school.

Union leaders say the "door is open" for further talks with Telford and Wrekin Council but so far no more meetings have been planned.

Shake-up

Fewer than three-in-10 pupils at Madeley Court have scored at least five A* to C-grades at GCSE since 1997.

Thomas Telford City Technology College, one of England's top comprehensives, has since been given the job of helping turn Madeley Court around.

But the general secretary of the NASUWT has demanded an inquiry into the issue.

Eamonn O'Kane said Thomas Telford's role in the shake-up at Madeley Court was "unacceptable".

He said the procedures used to appoint Madeley Court's head Vic Maher, the former deputy head at Thomas Telford, were "at best dubious".

Sir Kevin Satchwell was dubbed a "superhead" after his knighthood

By contrast, Thomas Telford City Technology College has consistently topped national state school league tables in recent years and its head teacher, Sir Kevin Satchwell, was knighted in 2001 for his services to education.

Under government policy, failing schools can be closed, merged or forced to "federate" with more successful neighbours.

Madeley's 18 staff fear any reorganisation of the school could end with them losing their jobs.

The local education authority (LEA) has indicated teachers could be "redeployed" in other local schools if jobs are lost at Madeley Court,

In a statement, Telford and Wrekin LEA said the schools had been partnered "to provide senior management, leadership and to secure higher levels of achievement by students".

The statement said Mr Maher was appointed as Madeley Court's head on a permanent basis because the school's governors "were concerned about the message that would be given out by a short-term appointment".