A TEACHERS’ union has spoken out about the reasons behind the second round of industrial action at Harwich’s high school.

Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) at Harwich and Dovercourt High School went on strike onTuesday, Wednesday and yesterday.

NASUWT national member for Essex Dan McCarthy said the strike was based around a number of issues, including teachers being unaware of their working hours, being judged by exam results against the national average and a controversial policy document that they want to be amended.

“Schools should carry out public sector equality assessments, which was not happening,” he said. “There were also no workload impact assessments so teachers were unaware of what their working hours were for days and weeks.

“They were also given targets they could not meet, based on a document which did not exist.

“There was a guideline document which had 17 different things wrong with it, most of which made them unlawful.

“Although that document has been withdrawn at the moment, management have not made a declaration which says they have withdrawn targets which are set out in it.”

He added: “Teachers were expected to achieve within five per cent of the national average in their students’ exam results, but they are not teaching the nation.

“The students may not be at the national average and Harwich and Dovercourt High School may not be at the national average.

“They are also not being measured against just the classes they take, but classes being taught by other teachers at the school. Management have not withdrawn those targets.”

The school was unable to comment at the time of going to press as a spokesman said it was in talks with the unions.