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- 05:03 PM Mar 01, 2023
Parents' fury as schools STILL won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow as strikes continue
Parents' fury as schools STILL won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow as teacher strikes continue Parents don't know if their school will open on third day of walkouts tomorrow Thousands of teachers took strike action in the north of England on Monday By Matt Powell and Tom Pyman For Mailonline Published: 13:11, 1 March 2023 | Updated: 17:39, 1 March 2023 e-mail 241 View comments Tens of thousands of teachers plan to continue striking tomorrow over pay, leaving parents furious as schools won't tell them if they will be closed. A third day of regional walkouts by the National Education Union (NEU) will take place tomorrow after teachers started strike action in the north of England on Monday . The NEU has estimated that around 200,000 members across England and Wales will strike over three days of action this week, with the 'majority of schools' expected to either restrict access to pupils or fully close.
Though many parents have been left in the dark by schools about if they need to arrange childcare or organise working from home tomorrow. Parents are being told by schools they will have to wait until the morning of the strike to find out if their doors will be open. Tens of thousands of teachers plan to continue striking tomorrow over pay, leaving parents furious as schools won't tell them if they will be closed Some parents are being told by schools they will have to wait until the morning of the strike to find out if their doors will be open One parent told the MailOnline: 'It is ridiculous that our school hasn't told us if they are open or closed tomorrow.
They say they will let us know at 7. 30am – how on earth are working parents supposed to make childcare arrangements at such short notice?' Scottish union warns of more strike action A second teaching union in Scotland has warned its members could take more strike action if the long-running pay dispute is not resolved. Children are again missing lessons as many schools around the country are closed on Wednesday for the second day in a row as members of the NASUWT and Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) unions walked out in the latest national strike action.
The EIS, which also staged 16 days of rolling strike action from mid-January into early February and three days of 'targeted' walkouts last week, has announced a new 20-day wave of rolling strikes between March 13 and April 21. The NASUWT has not announced any further strike dates, however Mike Corbett, its national official for Scotland, said there is 'certainly potential' for more walkouts, though members would be 'reluctant' to disrupt exam season. Speaking on a picket line outside Rosshall Academy in Glasgow, he told the PA news agency: 'Our strike action programme was up to and including today and I suppose our action committee probably hoped that that would be enough and we would have resolved the dispute by now, but it doesn't look like we have, so our action committee will meet again and review where we're at.
'We do have a programme of action short of strike action in schools at the moment so that's there still to try and put pressure on employers to come to a resolution to the dispute. 'Certainly there's potential for more strike action, obviously in a secondary school like the one we're standing outside we've got exam season coming after Easter, and we would be reluctant I think to disrupt exam season, disrupt exams and the pupils' potential achievements. ' Under the latest offer announced by Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville last month, teachers earning up to £80,000 would have a 6% pay rise from April 2022, and then another 5.
5% from the start of the 2023 financial year. Mr Corbett said an 'improved offer' is needed to resolve the dispute, and if the union receives an offer it feels is a 'significant improvement', this will be put to members for them to decide on.
dailymail. co. uk/v8/gb/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.
html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - -> Advertisement Maxine posted to Facebook: 'So teacher strike action was confirmed to me at 5:30pm for the following day? What is that about?' She said the teachers can 'strike all they want' but that she want's more notice than the evening before it happens. While Twitter user NM_Mum expressed their frustration at the situation. They said: 'Here we go again.
Not only am I in trouble at work for cancelling an important client meeting due to the #TeacherStrike, but also juggling WFH, childcare AND the school run tomorrow, because eldest happens to be in one of the 3 out of 28 classes that the school is making go in. ' Today picket lines have been mounted outside schools in the East Midlands, West Midlands and eastern regions in England on Wednesday, and rallies are due to be held in Birmingham, Cambridge , Leicester and Nottingham . Further strikes by teachers are planned across Wales, the south of England and London on Thursday.
Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan invited the teaching unions to 'formal talks on pay, conditions and reform' on the condition that this week's walkouts were suspended. Ms Keegan has called the union's decision not to suspend the regional strikes 'hugely disappointing'. But Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, have accused the Government of 'burying its head in the sand' as they claim underfunded pay increases have 'pushed the profession to its limits'.
They said: 'We reiterate once again that we are willing to enter negotiations at any time. Teachers want to be in the classroom, not the picket line. 'The Education Secretary needs to withdraw her unnecessary pre-conditions and get around the negotiating table.
' Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'While it's difficult to predict the exact impact of strikes in schools this week, there is likely to be significant localised disruption. 'School leaders will be considering what approach to take for those schools affected, based on their individual circumstances and risk assessments. ' He added: 'It is very disappointing that the Government has not been more willing to act to prevent strikes by bringing something of substance to the table for discussion.
For all the hours of talks we have conducted thus far, they have not offered any tangible move on pay, which is what is required. ' Further national strikes by NEU members in England and Wales are planned for March 15 and 16. On February 1, the first day of walkouts by NEU members, the majority of state schools in England were forced to shut their doors to some pupils.
Some 44. 7% of schools in England were open but with restricted attendance on February 1 and 9. 3% were closed, Department for Education data suggested.
Many parents have been left in the dark by schools about if they need to arrange childcare or organise working from home Teacher's union claims it was 'excluded' from new pay talks A teaching union that is warning of further strike action has claimed it was 'excluded' from new talks with the Education Secretary in the ongoing pay dispute. The NASUWT, whose members took part in the two days of strike action alongside the EIS on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, said talks with other education unions had taken place without their knowledge. NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said members of the union will 'not accept' backroom deals.
He said: 'We are seeking clarity as to why the NASUWT is being excluded from talks to end the pay dispute on which our members are again taking strike action today. ' Pay talks between the Scottish Government, local government employers' body Cosla and teaching unions generally take place through the Scottish Negotiating Council for Teachers. It is not clear whether the talks held between the Scottish Government and EIS are formal pay talks.
NASUWT's Scotland Official, Mike Corbett, has demanded talks with the Education Secretary.
co. uk/v8/gb/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox. html?id=mpu_factbox_2 - -> Advertisement Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'The impact of this week's strikes will likely be similar to that of the national strike on February 1, when the majority of schools were partially open but there was still significant disruption.
' He added: 'There is an overwhelming sense of frustration among school leaders that so little progress has been made in the last month in terms of resolving the industrial dispute. 'The lack of urgency from the Westminster Government compared to the administration in Wales is notable and dispiriting. It's time to dial down the rhetoric and engage in serious negotiations.
' Schools across Scotland face more closures today as members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and NASUWT unions embark on their second day of national strike action this week in a row over pay. It comes after EIS members took three days of 'targeted' strike action in four areas represented by key politicians, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, last week, and it also follows national strike action involving several unions in January and late last year. It comes as a second teaching union in Scotland today warned its members could take more strike action if the long-running pay dispute is not resolved.
The EIS, which also staged 16 days of rolling strike action from mid-January into early February and three days of 'targeted' walkouts last week, has announced a new 20-day wave of rolling strikes between March 13 and April 21. The NASUWT has not announced any further strike dates, however Mike Corbett, its national official for Scotland, said there is 'certainly potential' for more walkouts, though members would be 'reluctant' to disrupt exam season. Teachers stand on a picket line outside Glendale Primary school during another strike today Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary, Roz Foyer (right), with teachers on the picket line Teaching staff and NEU members attend a rally on Tuesday in Leeds Speaking on a picket line outside Rosshall Academy in Glasgow, he told the PA news agency: 'Our strike action programme was up to and including today and I suppose our action committee probably hoped that that would be enough and we would have resolved the dispute by now, but it doesn't look like we have, so our action committee will meet again and review where we're at.
'We do have a programme of action short of strike action in schools at the moment so that's there still to try and put pressure on employers to come to a resolution to the dispute. 'Certainly there's potential for more strike action, obviously in a secondary school like the one we're standing outside we've got exam season coming after Easter, and we would be reluctant I think to disrupt exam season, disrupt exams and the pupils' potential achievements. ' Under the latest offer announced by Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville last month, teachers earning up to £80,000 would have a 6% pay rise from April 2022, and then another 5.
5% from the start of the 2023 financial year. Mr Corbett said an 'improved offer' is needed to resolve the dispute, and if the union receives an offer it feels is a 'significant improvement', this will be put to members for them to decide on. Which schools are closed today? Essex Basildon Lower Academy - School open for year 7, online remote learning for years 8 and 9 Basildon Upper Academy - School open for Years 11, 12 and 13, online remote learning for year 10 Beauchamps High School in Wickford - Years 11 to 13 on site, years 7 to 10 have remote lessons at home Brightside Primary School in Billericay - Only one class will be open and no online learning.
School will be open to vulnerable pupils Glenwood School in Benfleet - School is open to the children of critical workers Lincewood Primary School in Basildon - Open for all year 6 pupils, vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Remote education is not being provided Mayflower High School in Billericay - Open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Remote education is being provided for years 7, 8 ,9 , 10, and 12 Oakfield Primary School in Wickford St Joseph's Catholic Primary School on Canvey - Reception on school trip, so will still attend The Appleton School in South Benfleet - Open for year 12 and 13, year 11 for Mock exams and for vulnerable students and children of critical workers The Fitzwimarc School in Rayleigh - Years 7, 11, 12, 13 and vulnerable students will be on site.
Years 8,9 and 10 will have remote learning at home The King John School in Benfleet - Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 in school only The Robert Drake Primary School in Benfleet - Vulnerable pupils able to attend The Sweyne Park School in Rayleigh - Remote education is being provided, open for vulnerable children, children of critical workers and pupils due to sit exams Wickford Primary School - Partially closing classes where staff have not confirmed attendance. All pupils, including vulnerable and those of critical workers, attending other classes Winter Gardens Academy on Canvey - Nursery open. Rest of school closed Chase High School in Westcliff - closed to year 8, 9 and 10 Cecil Jones Academy - closed to years 7, 8 and 9.
School starts at 9. 55am for year 10 and 8. 50am for years 11, 12 and 13 Cambridgeshire Abbey College, Ramsey - Partially Open Alconbury CofE Primary School - Partially Open Alderman Jacobs School - Partially Open Alderman Payne Primary School - Partially Open All Saints Interchurch Academy - Partially Open Arbury Primary School - Partially Open Barrington CofE VC Primary School - Partially Open Barton CofE VA Primary School - Partially Open Bassingbourn Village College- Partially Open Bottisham Village College - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Bourn CofE Primary Academy - Partially Open Brampton Village Primary School - Partially Open Bury CofE Primary School - Partially Open Cambourne Village College - Partially Open Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology - Partially Open Chesterton Community College - Partially Open Colville Primary School - Closed Comberton Village College - Partially Open Cromwell Community College - Partially Open Ely College - Partially Open Ely St Mary's CofE Junior School - Partially Open Fawcett Primary School - Partially Open Fenstanton and Hilton Primary School - Partially Open Fordham CofE Primary School - Partially Open Fulbourn Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Gamlingay Village Primary - Partially Open Godmanchester Community Academy - Partially Open Great Gidding CofE Primary School - Closed Great Paxton CofE Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Great Wilbraham CofE Primary School - Partially Open Hartford Junior School - Partially Open Haslingfield Endowed Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Histon and Impington Brook Primary School - Partially Open Histon and Impington Park Primary School - Partially Open Huntingdon Primary School - Partially Open Jeavons Wood Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Lantern Community Primary School - Partially Open Linton Heights Junior School - Partially Open Littleport & East Cambs Academy - Partially Open Longsands Academy - Partially Open Marleigh Primary School - Partially Open M
