Parents protest over John Gulson school appraisals dispute
Parents who claim their children's education is being disrupted by a dispute have held a protest, after teachers demonstrated about appraisals.
Teachers at John Gulson Primary School in Coventry have been on strike for a sixth day over what they said was an excessive system to observe staff. Three observations a year was "not unreasonable", the city council said. The school's headteacher, Shaukat Hussain, refused to speak to unions or the media. Parents have met with education chiefs in the city but said they do not understand why management at the school and the teachers cannot sit down and talk for the sake of the children. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and NASUWT have called action at the school on George Street following the introduction of the appraisal system last September. The NUT said members felt under threat by appraisals which have led to stress-related illnesses. Not all teachers at the school felt "under undue pressure", the council has said.