The new MP for St Neots and Mid-Cambridgeshire says he recognises teachers at Longsands Academy have made “an enormous decision” to strike this week.  

Ian Sollom MP (Liberal Democrat) started his new job today (Monday) after Thursday’s historic general election and has commented on tomorrow and Wednesday’s walkout.  

In one of his first public statements since his appointment, Mr Sollom says: “The commitment of the teachers at Longsands to the wellbeing and educational development of their pupils is outstanding.

"It is therefore an enormous decision for them to take strike action."

He added: “It is extremely distressing for pupils, and their parents, to see relations between teachers and management break down in a way that is clearly harming their education. 

“It is vital that these problems are resolved quickly and that Astrea prioritises rebuilding the confidence of their staff.” 

Mr Sollom added he wants to meet both teachers from Longsands and Astrea “urgently” to further discuss the issues.  

Longsands Academy staff who are members of the National Education Union – the country’s largest teaching union - are planning to strike tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday.  

Parents and other members of the community are being invited to join them on the picket line at the Longsands Road entrance between 7:30am and 9:30am.  

The dispute centres around “adverse management practices" including a series of unresolved concerns at the school, which is run by the Astrea Academy Trust.    

Longsands principal Dr Catherine Cusick wrote to parents over the weekend claiming the “last substantive issue” of the disagreement is over the school’s Morning Welcome. 

However, the union says there are also more significant and outstanding issues between its members and the school.