Academy hit by strike over threat to dock teachers' pay But the two unions, which represent around eight-in-10 teachers at the academy, have now ordered members out on strike in protest over the move. Most members took part in a day-long strike on Thursday, with five more walk-outs planned in coming weeks. Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: "The teachers deeply regret the disruption pupils and parents now face but it is entirely due to the hostile and vindictive actions of the governors and school management." Andrew Seager, the head teacher, said he was now seeking to bring in ACAS to resolve the dispute, which resulted in pupils being given a partial timetable on Thursday. He added: "We are quite sure that the effect of the [work-to-rule] action will be detrimental to the results of students. Therefore, it's right and reasonable to make an appropriate pay reduction. The school, in Newham, saw just 42 per cent of pupils gain five good GCSE passes, including English and maths, in 2007. By this summer, the proportion had increased to 62 per cent. Mr Seager said improvements were partially down to a new "non-negotiable" monitoring regime, in which senior staff members regularly observe teachers. Teachers are also expected to include activities in each class to ensure pupils fully understand lesson content and prepare regular updates on children's performance. But the school, which converted into an independent academy last year, insisted the system was completely undermined by the work-to-rule. Mr Seager said only around a fifth of teachers were preparing to take work-to-rule action, but added: "We cannot risk going back to what we had in 2007, and that will happen if this action goes ahead." But the teaching unions insisted that no pupils had "their education disrupted or compromised by anything the teachers have done prior to being forced to take strike action." Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "The teachers at Stratford Academy are dedicated and committed to the young people they teach. Instead of penalising and punishing them, the governors should focus on pressing the Secretary of State to resolve the national trade dispute and end his relentless attacks on the teaching profession. A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We are very disappointed that the NUT and NASUWT have chosen to take industrial action. Only a tiny minority of their members voted in favour but it will damage the profession's reputation.