Strikes at Ash Field Academy to have “detrimental” impact on children
Special educational needs children and their families are to face major disruption as staff confirm strike dates at Ash Field Academy on Gwendolen Road Evington.
The strike is the result of unhappiness about the school’s treatment of a teaching assistant and UNISON representative Tom Barker, who has been suspended since October 2025.
The walk outs will happen on Thursday 30 April and again from 13th-14th May 2026 and involves technicians, caterers and cleaners.
The strikes will have a “detrimental” impact on children, parents and teachers, leaders have warned ahead of imminent disruption.
The union believes Mr Barker’s suspension is linked to his union activity, including the organisation of a successful strike ballot shortly before he was removed, but DSAT has denied this is a linked issue and refused to reveal the nature of the investigation against Mr Barker.
They say the action will cause great disruption to their pupils, who have some of the most complex needs in the East Midlands, and have warned the situation remains uncertain.
A DSAT spokesperson said: “We are doing everything possible to keep the school open and maintain stability for pupils and families during this period.” DSAT has also made a formal request that full staffing for their residential unit is maintained as there are no viable alternatives available for the high needs’ children residing there. It is believed however that the strikers declined this request.
Ash Field Academy is a specialist school catering for pupils from age four to nineteen. The school serves Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland but also admits pupils from other counties.
The key specialism is in ensuring an excellent education for pupils with complex medical conditions or serious physical disabilities in a safe and nurturing environment. The pupil population has a wide range of cognitive ability, from those with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) to those with more Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), and everything in between.
The residential wing is attached to the main school building so parts of the school are also used in the evening by pupils. There are eight bedrooms and a ‘flat’ for older pupils’ use, allowing 18 pupils to stay at any one time. Most pupils stay for one or two nights per week, with those in the independence flat staying the whole week.
The school is concerned that their day pupils will also be detrimentally affected as many find changes in routine challenging, particularly for those who rely on consistency and familiar support and as a result of the strike, there may be some disruption to usual classroom arrangements, including changes to staffing, to stay open.
DSAT says that it respects “………. the legal right of staff to take industrial action and remain committed to ongoing dialogue.”
The last time UNISON organised industrial action at Ash Field Academy, 43 days of strikes was far too disruptive for the students and parents according to a teaching assistant who has chosen to remain anonymous.
Sources:
1-https://www.leicester.news/sen-pupils-face-major-disruption-as-staff-confirm-strike-dates/?ref=inside-leicester-newsletter
