TEACHING unions and managers at Villiers High School are finding a common ground following in-depth talks in the wake of last month's strike.

Representatives from Ealing National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ALT) have been in talks with senior staff at the school to find the best way to manage the site.

A strike was held by teachers in early December at the Southall school, amid allegations of mismanagement and bullying of staff.

Villiers headteacher Juliet Strang said: "We welcome a promise by the unions to end their threat of strikes at the school and fully support the agreement reached at the conciliation service Acas.

"The school can now return to the discussions it was having with staff over the important issues of school lunch breaks and the wellbeing of staff."

It is also hoped there will be a joint consultation committee, involving senior members of Villiers staff and the unions' representatives.

Ealing NUT secretary Nick Grant said: "We are delighted that Villiers High School governors have accepted the need for a serious change of direction in how their school is managed.

"We expect to see an immediate transparency and democracy in all aspects of the running of the school, as well as an end to unfair treatment of staff. We will remain vigilant until the independent wellbeing survey and a joint consultative committee bear fruit, and the chaos around lunchtime arrangements is finally sorted.

"We believe that the determination and unity of teaching unions has won a great future for the Villiers students and community."