A second teaching union says its members at Longsands Academy, in St Neots, are also considering whether to begin the formal process towards strike action. 

The NASUWT union held an indicative ballot last week after the National Education Union (NEU) confirmed its dispute with the secondary school over “unacceptable management practices”.  

Mark Burns, NASUWT’s national executive member for Cambridgeshire, said: “We held an indicative ballot with our members which is essentially asking: ‘If we held an official ballot, how would you vote?’ 

“And the results were positive, positive enough anyway, and we will be consulting with members about running a ballot over possible strike action. 

“If we do move forwards with industrial action, we will try to co-ordinate that action with the NEU.”  

Earlier in the week, the NEU – the country’s largest education union – said the dispute with Longsands Academy is ongoing but it hopes to avert strike action.

One of the issues being raised is around changes to the school timetable due to be implemented this term.  

A Longsands Academy spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, the teaching unions have confirmed that they are considering balloting their members for industrial action at Longsands.  

“This action appears to originate from the recent changes we had to make to timetables at the very end of last term.  

“We have done everything we can to engage with the unions to discuss their concerns and will continue to meet with them to discuss their concerns.  

“The wellbeing and happiness of staff are important to us at Longsands, and are crucial to ensuring that we provide an excellent education for the young people we serve.” 

Longsands Academy is part of the Astrea Academy Trust which runs four other secondary schools in Cambridgeshire including St Ivo Academy. 

Last year, members of the NASUWT teaching union at the St Ives secondary school held strike action over working conditions.