Classes recommenced at Movilla High School this morning, following three weeks of industrial action by teaching staff.

Twenty-five NASUWT union members took to the picket line, in mid-October, over an alleged assault on a teacher.

The walkout was prompted by the Principal's decision to dock the wages of staff that refused to teach the pupil at the centre of the allegations.

Hundreds of children were turned away from the gates of the Newtownards school, as Education Board officials and union representatives scrambled to find a solution to the dispute.

After much wrangling, an agreement was finally reached between both sides on Thursday.

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane praised the efforts of the accused pupil's parent in settling the strike.

She said: "They have shown enormous courage and flexibility.

"He will not be back at the school on Monday, but I'm identifying an independent advisor as a matter of urgency."

The agreement - signed by the NASUWT union and the South Eastern Education Board - centres on the appointment of an independent assessor to look at the needs of the child allegedly involved in the incident, and how the union will feed into that assessment.

(PR/JM)