Hexham Haydon Bridge High School strike over behaviour - BBC News BBC Homepage Skip to content Accessibility Help Your account Home News Sport Earth Reel Worklife Travel Culture Future Music TV Weather Sounds More menu More menu Search BBC Home News Sport Earth Reel Worklife Travel Culture Future Music TV Weather Sounds Close menu BBC News Menu Home Climate World US & Canada UK Business Tech Science Entertainment & Arts Health More In Pictures BBC Verify Newsbeat Teachers to strike over bad behaviour in school Image source, GoogleImage caption, Teachers and staff at Haydon Bridge High School are set to walk out on two days ByCollette Howe North East and Cumbria Published 17 November 2025 Staff at a secondary school are to strike over what unions called a "failure of management to act" to properly tackle "disruptive behaviour". Union bosses announced teachers and support staff at Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland would take two days of action - on 19 and 25 November - with members of the community invited to hear the teachers' concerns. Headteacher David Nisbet said: "It is important that the education of the young people we serve is not disrupted by industrial action." The National Education Union (NEU) and the NASUWT said they wanted to engage in meaningful discussions and that strike action was "always a last resort". Mr Nisbet said: "The governors, leadership team and Northumberland County Council continue to work with the NASUWT and NEU to avoid strike action at Haydon Bridge High School." 'High suspension levels' The headteacher added: "Like any comprehensive school, behaviour is not perfect. "Children can become upset or angry for a number of reasons and the school's behaviour and pastoral systems work well to meet the needs of those children, despite resources being very limited." Mr Nisbet said the school had received multiple visits over the past two years from bodies like Ofsted and Northumberland County Council who "deemed behaviour to be as good as what is seen in most high schools throughout England". The school's most recent Ofsted monitoring report, external, published in September, warned that the school needed "to address the persistent disruptive behaviour of a minority of pupils that is leading to high levels of suspension". However, it also praised Haydon Bridge for prioritising "the improvement of teaching, behaviour and attendance" since its last full inspection which led to a "requires improvement" rating. The unions said employees had repeatedly raised fears about pupil behaviour and the impact it was having on safety, teaching and learning. An NEU spokesman said: "For more than a year, staff at the school have been pleading with the headteacher and governors to create, test out and implement an effective pupil behaviour management policy and procedures. "Sadly, this still has yet to be done." A spokesperson for the council said: "We are aware of this planned action and are working with all parties to try and find a resolution and minimise the impact on pupils' education." Additional reporting by James Robinson, Local Democracy Reporting Service Follow BBC North East on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external. Get in touch Do you have a story suggestion for BBC North East & Cumbria? Contact form Contact form Related topics Strike action Haydon Bridge Hexham National Education Union NASUWT Teaching Schools Related stories Council takes control of failing school Published 25 May 2018 School closures plan dropped after outcry Published 24 April 2018 Related internet links Haydon Bridge High School NEU NASUWT Ofsted Northumberland County Council From other local news sites Plans lodged for landmark Newcastle office block that could be regeneration 'catalyst' External Newcastle Evening Chronicle Go North East issues statement after bus crashed into garden of County Durham home External Northern Echo Teens seriously injured after 'attempted murder' in Newcastle External Northern Echo Historic Newcastle city centre building put up for sale with £8.9m price tag External Newcastle Evening Chronicle ‘Inspirational’ South Tyneside teaching staff hailed at a North East awards evening External Shields Gazette Berwick students transform quayside huts into a lasting public artwork External Northumberland Gazette Information about BBC links to other news sites The video playlist Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Previous Next 0:56Who is Andy Burnham and what does he stand for? 00:00:56, play videoWho is Andy Burnham and what does he stand for? 0:38The mixed emotions of fans leaving World Cup final. 00:00:38, play videoThe mixed emotions of fans leaving World Cup final 1:01How exam and job worries sparked India's latest protests. 00:01:01, play videoHow exam and job worries sparked India's latest protests 1:20Catfish to pay student £10k for using her pics to fake dating profile. 00:01:20, play videoCatfish to pay student £10k for using her pics to fake dating profile 1:03Why has Japan changed its royal succession rules? 00:01:03, play videoWhy has Japan changed its royal succession rules? 0:49Are football shirts fashionable now? 00:00:49, play videoAre football shirts fashionable now? 1:00Couples could marry at the pub or in a hot air balloon under new plans. 00:01:00, play videoCouples could marry at the pub or in a hot air balloon under new plans 1:05Violence in Ukraine as military tries to recruit. 00:01:05, play videoViolence in Ukraine as military tries to recruit 1:05Why do we procrastinate? 00:01:05, play videoWhy do we procrastinate? 1:28Father warns of 'brain-eating amoeba' after son's death. 00:01:28, play videoFather warns of 'brain-eating amoeba' after son's death 1:32What are your rights if you buy something that breaks? 00:01:32, play videoWhat are your rights if you buy something that breaks? 0:57Granny wins care home Happy Hour law change. 00:00:57, play videoGranny wins care home Happy Hour law change 1:06Why women should speak openly about money. 00:01:06, play videoWhy women should speak openly about money 0:57When you say the wrong thing into a microphone. 00:00:57, play videoWhen you say the wrong thing into a microphone 1:01How to use your loved ones' clothes to keep their memory alive. 00:01:01, play videoHow to use your loved ones' clothes to keep their memory alive 0:45BBC's Guy Mowbray on how to commentate a football game. 00:00:45, play videoBBC's Guy Mowbray on how to commentate a football game 1:18Young engineers take on Red Bull Soapbox Race. 00:01:18, play videoYoung engineers take on Red Bull Soapbox Race 1:04'I invented the Mexican Wave' 00:01:04, play video'I invented the Mexican Wave' 0:49Too hot to fly: the airports at risk from climate change. 00:00:49, play videoToo hot to fly: the airports at risk from climate change 1:35Why listening to birdsong is good for you. 00:01:35, play videoWhy listening to birdsong is good for you Top stories Live. Andy Burnham pledges cost of living help in first speech as prime minister 88014 viewing88k viewing Burnham promises 'breathing space' for households. How might it affect your money? Published 39 minutes ago Who is Andy Burnham's wife, Marie-France van Heel? Published 11 minutes ago More to explore My fitness tracker knew I was pregnant before I did Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here's how to check ‘Everyone's afraid to die’: Struggle to recruit soldiers in Ukraine turns violent The small seaside town winning big from TV tourism The hidden cost of the night shift and how to sleep it off How Highland cows are giving a family farm a boost 'I had got used to the pain of coeliac disease' 'We had to stop fighting nature after losing five homes' Get news, tips and ideas for your family with our Summer Essential newsletter Elsewhere on the BBC What will Andy Burnham's first day be like? Get inside access to the new super-elite: The tech billionaires Relive all the action from Spain's World Cup victory First look: Vigil returns with higher stakes than ever Most read 1 Who is Andy Burnham's wife, Marie-France van Heel? 2 Prisons minister Lord Timpson quits government 3 What does a Burnham-led government mean for your money? 4 Fire crews battle blaze on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh 5 Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton dies aged 68 6 My fitness tracker knew I was pregnant before I did 7 The small seaside town winning big from TV tourism 8 ‘Everyone's afraid to die’: Struggle to recruit soldiers in Ukraine turns violent 9 Residents told to pay £7,000 each to fix water pipe outside their homes 10 Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup BBC News Services On your mobile On smart speakers Get news alerts Contact BBC News Home News Sport Earth Reel Worklife Travel Culture Future Music TV Weather Sounds Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC BBC emails for you Advertise with us Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.