A teaching union is blaming "excessive workload" and "constant scrutiny" as among the reasons for a teachers' strike which has closed a Suffolk school. 

A National Education Union (NEU) spokesperson confirmed that staff at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Sudbury are in an "ongoing formal dispute" resulting in strike action which closed the school on Tuesday. 

The union said staff had "taken steps to resolve the dispute" with a list of resolutions, but that their position has not changed since October when the chair of governors was first made aware.

An independent investigation has been launched into the matter.

In a statement, the NEU said: "Staff feel that the school's executive leadership have been, at best, slow to respond and there has only been minimal progress as a result of ACAS (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) being involved.

"St Joseph’s is a good school with consistently high academic and sporting results.

"The excessive workload and constant scrutiny is not needed and have forced this course of action.

"Staff remain open to discussion, despite the inflammatory letter which parents received from the chair of governors."

The union said it gave two weeks notice of the strike to the school, but parents and guardians were made aware on Friday at 7pm.

Paul McLaughlin, regional secretary for the NEU, said: "We know that members are only taking action as a last resort and in an effort to improve the working arrangements at the school for the benefit of the pupils and the wider community.

"The management of the school is a key part of the success of any school and it is clear that significant issues still need to be addressed.

"We hope that the employer will work with us to resolve those issues prior to the further dates of strike action planned for March 21 and 22." 

On Tuesday, Dr Christopher Oldroyd, chair of governors at The Federation of St Edmund's & St Joseph's Catholic Primary Schools, which also runs St Edmund's Catholic Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, said: “The school regrets the decision of the staff to go on strike and apologises for the inconvenience to families.

"We have held talks with the staff’s union representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks including on the February 16 and again on the March 7 with the assistance of ACAS, in an effort to avert the strike action.

“An independent investigation has been commissioned to look into the issues and concerns raised by staff and the school leadership has offered a number of ways in which to address concerns about workload.

"The school remains keen to resolve the issues of concern to the staff and their union." 

A letter to parents on Friday, March 8, read: "Teaching staff have, over the past few months, raised a wide range of issues and concerns.

"We have met with staff and unions on multiple occasions to try and address those concerns, including a meeting with ACAS yesterday.

"We left this meeting optimistic that a compromise had been reached but were informed this afternoon that staff still intend to proceed with the strike."

It also stated that an independent investigation has been commissioned into the issues raised by staff, which is due to start soon, and added: "It is unfortunate that staff are moving forward with strike action before this investigation has taken place." 

Further strike action is planned at the school next week on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22.