Industrial action is latest blow to LIPA School after damning Ofsted and forced closure
LIPA School has closed its doors with immediate effect
Staff at a crisis-hit Liverpool school which has been urgently closed for safety reasons are set to take strike action at the start of the new term in September. The ECHO exclusively revealed last Thursday that LIPA School, based in Upper Duke Street in the city centre had closed its doors suddenly several days before the end of term.
The school – which includes a primary and secondary provision – was recently the subject of a scathing Ofsted inspection report which plunged it into special measures. As part of this report, inspectors said that the school’s safeguarding policies were not effective.
This prompted the school to contact School Improvement Liverpool – a council-linked body that works to improve schools in the city – who carried out a review last week. In a letter to parents, acting headteacher Claire McKendrick explained that following this review – and a fire evacuation drill – it became apparent that the school’s buildings require “some adjustments to ensure the absolute safety of all students.”
The latest blow to the crisis-hit school followed shortly after this news, with the National Education Union serving notice of industrial action amid what it described as “escalating concerns” about the school’s governance, safety and long-term viability.
The union says this action comes after months of “failed attempts to engage the trust in meaningful dialogue over serious issues raised by staff, including health and safety risks, unreasonable management practices and the refusal to recognise trade unions.
The NEU said that with the school now closed for the foreseeable future because of safety issues and following the sudden resignation of the trust’s newly appointed CEO, “questions are mounting about whether the trust can demonstrate that the school remains a going concern.”
The NEU said its members at LIPA School have expressed “deep frustration” and last week voted to proceed with industrial action, stating that “enough is enough.”
As things stand, staff will walk out at the start of the new school term, with strike dates set to take place on September 2, 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18 at present.
NEU regional officer Bora Oktas said: ““Our members have been raising serious concerns about the safety and governance of LIPA School for over a year. They have tried every avenue to resolve these issues constructively.”
“This is not just about working conditions. It’s about the safety and wellbeing of children. The recent closure of the school due to health and safety concerns only confirms what our members have been warning about for months.”
A spokesperson for LIPA Multi Academy Trust said: “We are working closely with the Department for Education to address the issues raised in the recent Ofsted report. We are working on the required adjustments to the School buildings to ensure we can welcome back pupils for the new academic term into a safe and nurturing environment.”
He added: “Our members care deeply about their students and their school. They have shown extraordinary patience and professionalism in the face of unacceptable conditions. This dispute is not about pay or perks—it’s about safety, respect, and the right to be heard. We urge the trust to return to the table and work with us to create a school environment that is safe, fair, and fit for purpose.” The ECHO understands school bosses are yet to receive formal notification of the strike.
In a response, a spokesperson for LIPA Multi Academy Trust said: “We are working closely with the Department for Education to address the issues raised in the recent Ofsted report. We are working on the required adjustments to the school buildings to ensure we can welcome back pupils for the new academic term into a safe and nurturing environment.”