School closed as staff strike over safety concerns
Learning Partnership West in Bristol closed after teachers from the National Education Union (NEU) struck over pay, rest breaks, and safety concerns, including lack of green space and metal detectors. Staff plan further strikes in June, citing the school’s building as unfit for vulnerable pupils and demanding better support from the city’s education system.
Teachers at Learning Partnership West (LPW) in Bedminster, Bristol, went on strike, forcing the school to close for the day. The National Education Union (NEU) said its members, who work with some of the city’s most vulnerable children, raised concerns about pay, rest breaks, and safety, including the lack of green space and a metal detector at the school’s entrance. LPW, which supports 50 pupils struggling with mainstream education, operates from a small building on an industrial estate. The NEU criticized the absence of a clear pay policy and stated staff are not all entitled to paid rest periods. The union also described the school’s current conditions as unfit for purpose. Bristol NEU Branch and district secretary Tom Bolton emphasized that LPW provides a critical last chance at education for many students, calling on the city to ensure proper support. Further strikes are planned for June 10, 16, 17, and 18. The school declined to comment, while Bolton stressed the need for full payment and support for staff to help vulnerable children thrive. The union framed the dispute as a responsibility of the wider Bristol education system to address safety and working conditions.
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