Teachers and support staff at Villiers High School in Southall are preparing to walk out on Tuesday (13 October 2026) in the first of six days of planned strike action over pay, working conditions and concerns about the school’s management.
The National Education Union (NEU) says it has more than 90 members at the school, including teachers and support staff, who are being called to take part in the action. Further strikes are planned for 21 and 22 October 2026 and 3, 4 and 5 November 2026.
The dispute centres on cuts to additional payments for experienced teachers, excessive workloads, health and safety concerns and allegations that elected union representatives have been unfairly treated by senior management.
Ealing NEU says a ballot for industrial action concluded on 17 July 2026, but attempts to resolve the dispute through negotiations have been unsuccessful. Formal notice of the strike dates was given to the school earlier this month (2 October 2026).
The union says it met briefly with the headteacher last week (8 October 2026) and offered to hold further talks before Tuesday’s walkout, but claims the offer was refused.
Ealing NEU joint district secretary Mat Milovanovic told EALING.NEWS: “Villiers NEU Members are frustrated by the school’s union busting tactics in lieu of engaging with meaningful talks.”
He added: “After management’s toxic behaviour towards NEU reps and officers, members have lost trust in the school’s leadership to engage in good faith.”
The NEU says around 14 staff face cuts to their additional payments, including one union representative who could lose £7,000 a year. Although pay is protected for three years, the union wants the protection extended for as long as those affected remain at the school.
The union has questioned why experienced teachers face losing money when, it claims, four senior members of staff earn more than £100,000 a year and the school has reserves of around £2 million. It says keeping the affected payments would cost approximately £35,000.
Ealing NEU has also raised concerns with Ealing Council about the school’s financial arrangements.
Staff have also raised serious concerns about safety at the school. The NEU claims asbestos was left exposed in IT classrooms and says some staff believe pupils may have been exposed over a five-year period.
The union says staff have been raising concerns about increasing workloads, a lack of support from senior management and the running of the school since 2024, but feel their complaints have largely been ignored.
Mr Milovanovic said members wanted a concrete offer from management before considering whether to call off the industrial action.
He added: “The NEU still remains committed to a meaningful resolution despite the hostile and provocative actions of school’s leadership.”
The union says families have been informed of the strike and that it understands the school intends to remain partially open during the industrial action.
Founded in 1907, Villiers High School will celebrate its 120th anniversary next year. The school is also undergoing a £29.3 million redevelopment, with a new teaching block expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Update – 13 October 2026 130pm
Following publication of this story, Villiers High School provided EALING.NEWS with a statement responding to the union’s allegations.
The school confirmed that 36 teachers took part in Tuesday’s strike action, with Years 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13 attending school as normal, while Years 8 and 12 continued their lessons remotely.
Responding to the dispute over additional payments, the school said the changes concern historic Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments dating back to a national scheme that ended in 2011. It said affected staff have three years of pay protection and that the changes are intended to bring payments into line with current responsibilities.
The school also disputed the union’s claims about its financial arrangements, saying its reserves have been earmarked by Ealing Council for the £29.3 million redevelopment. It said an independent external financial audit had confirmed confidence in its financial management.
On health and safety, the school said inspections by Ealing Council officers and the Health and Safety Executive had given it a clean bill of health. Its statement did not specifically address the allegation concerning possible asbestos exposure in IT classrooms.
The school also challenged the union’s account of negotiations, saying senior management and governors had made repeated offers to meet NEU representatives before the strike ballot, but these had not been taken up.
EALING.NEWS also approached Ealing Council
 in the first of six days of planned strike action over pay, working conditions and concerns about the school's management.){kind=link}