Teachers at a school near Glasgow are being balloted for strike action over “serious health and safety concerns” that represent a “substantial risk to life.”
Members of the EIS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, are being encouraged to back industrial action in response to the current state of Lenzie Academy in East Dunbartonshire.
Teachers at the school have signalled their willingness to take action in an indicative ballot, with 95 percent of members voting in favour. The union has now moved to a formal vote which would provide a mandate for strikes.
In a social media post giving details of the ballot, the EIS cited a range of “concerns raised by members over many years”. These include leaks, water running near electrics, “asbestos-related risks”, mould and damp, broken fire door, a “non-working secure entry system” and more.
Officials have urged the council to “take urgent remedial action” before the ballot concludes in January, and say that if this does not happen members will proceed with industrial action in February.
Earlier this month, the council’s Chief Education Officer Greg Bremner wrote to families with children at the school to provide details of the works that would be required. This followed a Fire Risk Assessment that was carried out during the October holiday, during with serious problems were identified.
It has previously been reported that issues included fire doors which were not always closed and could not be easily opened in the event of an emergency.
In the letter, dated 8 December, Mr Bremner says that a “detailed action plan” had been developed and promised a further update in the new year. Although he advised that repairs to parts of the school floor had already been carried out, he also outlined a range of “further improvements” that are also required. These include refurbishment of the pupil toilets, resurfacing of the car park, and “enhanced security for door entry system.”
However, a technical note published by the council suggests that some of the work could take up to six months to complete.
The council insists that the school remains safe, despite the various problems identified in its own safety assessment.
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Lenzie Academy has been the subject of recent controversy over plans to rebuild the school, with the council seeking to construct the new building on nearby Whitegates Park. A recent report shows that the expected total cost as increased by tens of millions of pounds, in part due to the cost of removing "hazardous waste" from the area.
Local campaigners have complained about a lack of transparency, particularly over the way in which the site was chosen: officers did not apply an objective scoring matrix when making their recommendation, and their meeting to decide on the preferred site was not minuted.
The council's provost has also confirmed that she was advised by officers not to attend a recent public consultation session about the controversial proposals. Following that event, a local resident complained that one of the council's contractors had spoken to him in an "unprofessional and intimidating" manner.
Commenting on the ballot, Bora Oktas, EIS Area Officer, said: “The employer has been fully aware of the fire safety risks at Lenzie Academy for months - risks that their own assessment describes as a ‘substantial risk to life.’ Yet, broken fire doors remain unrepaired and staff are saying the situation has not improved. Strike action is always a last resort, but this is about protecting pupils and staff from unacceptable risks.”
Mr Oktas continued, “Our members have raised these problems repeatedly, yet the response from the Council has been slow and inadequate. Health and safety is not optional; it is a legal and moral obligation. The employer must act now to make the school safe for everyone who works and learns there.”
Mr Oktas concluded: “Our members have shown incredible patience, but their concerns have been ignored. This ballot is about ensuring a safe learning environment for pupils and a safe workplace for staff. The EIS will always support our members when they raise legitimate health and safety concerns. It is unacceptable that staff and pupils are being exposed to such risks. The employer must take immediate steps to resolve these issues and avoid unnecessary disruption. The employer must act now.”
East Dunbartonshire Council was been asked to publish the Lenzie Academy Fire Risk Assessment, but has refused to do so. An official told The Herald that it is "not in the public domain as per standard procedure" and claimed that it will not release the material in response to Freedom of Information requests because it is "exempt".
Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, Ann Davie, said:
“Discussions are ongoing with the EIS in relation to matters at Lenzie Academy. Any strike action is regrettable and we will continue to work with all parties to do everything we can to avoid disruption to pupils’ learning.
“Issues raised in the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) are being addressed in order of priority and it is important to stress that the school remains safe for pupils, teachers and staff to occupy. As with all schools there is an asbestos management plan in place, detailing where asbestos is present and this is referred to when work is carried out. Levels in Lenzie Academy are similar to buildings of this age and type. This has been communicated to the EIS in order to correct information on this issue.
“As stated previously the remedial works are part of a six-month programme that started in November 2025. All recommendations within the FRA will be addressed and costs are being finalised.
“Work to refurbish the toilets and resurface the car park started some time ago as part of our Capital Works Programme, unrelated to the FRA, and is ongoing.”
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