After a two-day walk out at Longsands Academy in St Neots, the National Education Union (NEU) say they're "preparing" for more strike action.

NEU members joined teachers at Longsands Academy and parents of pupils in a strike outside of the school gates from July 9-10.

The strike was held over a "culmination of issues", according to one parent, but the final straw was Astrea's "Morning Welcome" policy, which pupils have likened to "being in a prison".

The strike action is now over, but the school could face further walk outs in the new academic year if negotiations aren't agreed. Prior to the strike, the NEU and Astrea had a five hour discussion of unsuccessful negotiations. 

Recommended Reading: 'Intimidating and draconian culture' - Astrea Longsands strike

The Academy remained open over the two day strike despite the reduced workforce, however, some parents feel that it was "unsafe" of Astrea to have kept the school running.

It was reported to The Hunts Post by a parent of a Longsands pupil that students were asked to go to school in their PE kits during the strike - presumably for a day of activities. 

However, children told their parents that they instead sat through four hours of assemblies and were made to complete the "Morning Welcome" three times. 

The Hunts Post put these reports to Astrea. A spokesperson responded: "We have worked extremely hard to keep the school open, to avoid any unnecessary disruption to pupils and their families.

"We are very sorry that the strike has had to go ahead in these last few weeks of term. We have timetabled a wide range of activities for the students, including sports and interactive workshops and asked the students to line up outside to come in after break and lunch. 

"We are looking forward to a calmer period in September, as we start the new academic year."

Recommended Reading: 'Removing the Morning Welcome would set us back' - Astrea responds to strike

Paul McLaughlin, Regional Secretary at the NEU, said: "If a school has around 100 members of staff on strike, education will be disrupted. The idea that Astrea think disruption was avoided is not realistic.

"As we understand, there was an 80 per cent pupil attendance on day one of the strike, and a 40 per cent attendance on day two. That's a reaction to the level of education that was provided yesterday (July 9)."

Mr McLaughlin told The Hunts Post that: "Our members don't want to be on strike, they want to be in school. 

"In order to do that we need proper negotiations to resolve the issues, otherwise, regrettably there may have to be further action in September.

"We're preparing for further strike action if it's needed in September."

The strike at Longsands Academy was the first strike of its kind in Cambridgeshire, where a specific school was subject to industrial action rather than a cluster.

The Astrea Academy Trust also runs Ernulf Academy in Eynesbury, St Ivo Academy in St Ives, the Cottenham Village College in Cambridge, and The Centre School in Cambridge.