The new MP for St Neots says he remains "very concerned at the gap” between the perspectives of disputing teachers and senior leaders at Longsands Academy.
Their union, the National Education Union (NEU), says the dispute centres around “adverse management practices” at Longsands Academy.
Ian Sollom, the Liberal Democrat MP, held separate meetings with the union and the school’s leadership towards the end of his first week in the job.
In a Facebook post, he said: “I remain very concerned at the gap between the position of the staff represented by the unions and that of the leadership.
“I impressed on both sides that there must be continuing dialogue and collaboration, with the aim of finding solutions to the issues.
“It is vital that the education of pupils at the school is not further affected.”
He added: “I will be arranging further meetings with union representatives as well as establishing regular meetings with the leadership at Longsands and Astrea.
“I was clear during the election campaign that I believe Multi Academy Trusts work best when they are locally based, both embedded in and accountable to the communities in which their schools are situated.
“I have challenged Astrea leadership to show that they can achieve this as a trust with a much wider national presence and interest.”
The comment said: “The gap is your red flag.
“Talk to the staff, talk to the unions and talk to the parents. They speak the truth, not the suits that are literally ticking boxes...
“...It’s our young people that are being failed and not just educationally.
“The strikes are not the only factor affecting their education. It’s the way the schools are run, day in and day out.”
Another commented saying “the vast majority of staff, plus the parents and carers, plus the young people are all on the same side of that gap”.
A spokesperson from Astrea Academy Trust said it agrees "entirely with Mr Sollom about the need for continuing dialogue and collaboration" to avoid "further disruption to students' education" from strike action.
She said: “Astrea is deeply committed to Cambridgeshire and to our other three hubs, providing the very best education we can for the communities we serve.
"Cambridgeshire is by far our largest local cluster when it comes to the number of students and funding we provide.
"Specialist staff in the local area contribute to the work of the whole trust.
"Our capital investment in Cambridgeshire is also higher than the other three local authority areas, having benefited from £8.1m of funding to improve the estate over the last five years.
"This goes well beyond the capital funding provided by the government."
She added the trust's "people are passionate and care deeply" about students, staff and the wider community and it is looking forward "to further productive meetings" with Mr Sollom in the future.
Paul McLaughlin, Regional Secretary for the NEU, said: “We had a very constructive dialogue with Ian Sollom and we’re pleased to work with him to try and address the issues at the school.
“The fact is there is a massive disconnect between what Astrea management seem to think are the issues and what the actual issues are. They’re in a different reality sometimes.
“The style of education is out of touch frankly and they seem to cling on to this authoritarian style which we do not think is in the best interests of the students.”
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