TEACHERS at Cardigan Secondary School are set to stage a one-day strike next week.

Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) will walk out on Tuesday (January 22), with around 20 members of staff expected to take part in the action.

Further one-day strikes are also understood to be in the pipeline.

An independent inquiry is currently being conducted by Ceredigion County Council after initial complaints were lodged by three former members of staff in what is understood to involve allegations of bullying and harassment at the school.

Since the investigation began, the local authority has also received other complaints that include staff and parents at the school.

These complaints now form part of the current investigation, which is expected to conclude later this month.

It has also been revealed that the inquiry's remit also includes allegations as to whether a group of teachers and former school teachers have co-ordinated a plan to intimidate, bully and harass members of the senior leadership team

Union representatives have met with education chiefs to discuss the situation and staff at the school were balloted on taking industrial action last month (December).

They voted in favour of strike action and the first of those strikes will now take place on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the local education authority said: "Ceredigion County Council can confirm that some teachers at Ysgol Gyfun Aberteifi have voted for potential strike action, which will take place on Tuesday, January 22.

"The school wishes to reassure parents and pupils that Ysgol Gyfun Aberteifi will remain open to all pupils, and provisions are in place to ensure that a full programme of meaningful learning will continue to be delivered.

"The action is taking place because of a dispute over alleged adverse management practices at the school. The NASUWT teachers’ union held a ballot because of this dispute and 17 teachers at Cardigan School voted in favour of potential strike action.

"The council has held a constructive meeting with the NASUWT and appreciate their role as advocates for teaching staff in Ceredigion schools. Both the union and the council wish to continue to negotiate and reach a resolution on the matters raised.

"Ceredigion County Council has commissioned an independent investigation following issues raised by former staff members at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi.

"The independent investigator has spoken to 25 former and existing members of staff, including many who have not made any kind of complaint. The investigation focuses on three main issues:

• Complaints against school leadership, including whether a culture of intimidation, bullying and harassment exists at the school.

• Considering whether a group of teachers and former school teachers have co-ordinated a plan to intimidate, bully and harass members of the senior leadership team.

• Establishing whether any of the actions investigated contravene the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice for Registrant with the Education Workforce Council.

"Other historic issues which concern pupils’ complaints are within the remit of the governing body complaints procedure are also being looked into.

"All enquiries are expected to be completed by the end of January and the county council will then act in accordance with the recommendations of the report."