Teachers Strike Over Pupil Violence in Manchester Schools

On 6 January 2026 teachers at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester and Ravensfield Primary School in Tameside began a strike organised by the NASUWT union after repeated incidents of pupil violence. Reports say students have brought knives, thrown furniture, bitten, kicked, hit and spat on staff, leading to lockdowns and fire‑door closures. The strike will run through 8 January, 13‑15 January and 20‑22 January. The schools are part of the Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust, whose chief executive Jo Ashcroft said arrangements were in place to keep schools open. Union officials claim the trust ignored safety concerns, failed to conduct risk assessments and has threatened staff with suspension or contract non‑renewal.