Parents' fury as schools won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

‘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.

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

Mayfield Primary School – Partially Open

Meadow Primary School – Partially Open

Meadowgate Academy – Partially Open

Melbourn Primary School – Partially Open

Melbourn Village College – Partially Open

Meridian Primary School – Partially Open

Morley Memorial Primary School – Partially Open

Neale-Wade Academy – Partially Open

Orchard Park Community Primary School – Closed

Parkside Community College – Partially Open

Pathfinder CofE Primary School – Partially Open

Pendragon Community Primary School – Partially Open

Pilgrim Pathways School – Partially Open

Priory Junior School – Partially Open

Priory Park Infant School & Playgroup – Open

Queen Edith Primary School – Partially Open

Queen Emma Primary School – Partially Open

Samuel Pepys School – Partially Open

Sawston Village College – Partially Open

Sawtry Junior Academy – Partially Open

Sawtry Village Academy – Partially Open

Shirley Community Primary School – Closed

Soham Village College – Partially Open

St Bede’s Inter-Church School – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

St Helen’s Primary School – Partially Open

St Laurence Catholic Primary School – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

St Matthew’s Primary School – Closed

St Peter’s CofE Aided Junior School – Partially Open

Stretham Community Primary School – Closed

The Bellbird Primary School – Partially Open

The Cavendish School – Partially Open

The Grove Primary School – Partially Open

The Netherhall School – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

The Rackham Church of England Primary School – Partially Open

The Spinney Primary School – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

The Vine Inter-Church Primary School – Partially Open

Thomas Clarkson Academy – Partially Open

Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School – Awaiting confirmation

Townley Primary School – Partially Open

Warboys Primary Academy – Partially Open

Waterbeach Community Primary School – Partially Open

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

Witchford Village College – Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children

Yaxley Infant School – Partially Open

Norfolk

Acle Academy – Restricted attendance to Year 11 and selected students

Ashleigh Primary and Nursery School – The school and nursery are fully closed today

Attleborough Academy – Partial closure; the Academy is closed to students in Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12

Avenue Junior School – Only open to a limited number of vulnerable pupils

Barford Primary School – School is partially closed today

Barnham Broom CE VA Primary School – School is partially closed; classes 1, 2 and 3 are closed. Classes 4 and 5 are open and children in these classes should attend as normal

Bignold Primary School & Nursery – The school is only open for vulnerable students

Bluebell Primary School – The majority of the school is closed to all, other than Year 6 and pupils who have been specifically asked to attend

Broadland High Ormiston Academy – Closed to students in Year 8, 9 and 10. Students in Year 7 and 11 should attend as normal.

Bure Valley School – In school provision for vulnerable learners only

Catton Grove Primary School – Only open for children attending Caterpillars (2 year olds) and vulnerable children

Cawston Church of England Primary Academy – Fully closed due to strike

Cecil Gowing Infant School – Closed to all pupils

Chapel Green School – Closed except priority

Churchill Park Academy – Partially closed

City of Norwich School – Closed to all students

Colman Infant School – Closed to all students

Colman Junior School – Closed to all students

Costessey Primary School – Fully open to pupils in Reception, Y1, Y2 and Y6. In Y3, Y4 and Y5, pupils with SEND, those children with a social worker and those from Key Worker families can attend school as normal.

Cringleford CE VA Primary School – EYFS and Year 2 fully open. Vulnerable children offered places.

Dereham Church of England Junior Academy – Open for the following classes only: Year 3 – Gandhi and Mandela Year 4 – Babbage, Parks and Malorie Year 5 – Attenborough and Pankhurst Year 6

Dereham Neatherd High School – Only pupils who have received an invite should attend

Dersingham VA Primary & Nursery School – Open for Nursery, Reception and Year 1

Diss High School – Open to Year 12 and Year 13 students only

Docking Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery – Unable to staff Inca Jays (Y1 and Y2) class today. This class will be closed for today only. All other classes are open as usual.

Downham Market Academy – Only open to students in Year 11, 12 and 13

Drayton CE VC Junior School – Fully closed

Drayton Community Infant School – All classes closed

Duke of Lancaster School – Closed

Fakenham Infant & Nursery School – Nursery provision and reception is closed. Y1 and Y2 are open and pupils should attend as normal

Fakenham Junior School – Y3 and Y6 closed. Only Y4 and Y5 will be open. After school Y5 sport club is cancelled

Falcon Junior School – School is open for Year 3 Puffins and Pelicans, Year 4 Kingfishers and Firecrests, Year 5 Bitterns and Herons, Year 6 Doves and Eagles only

Framingham Earl High School – Partial Closure: Open for Year 11 and those in the cast for ‘Tuesday’ as well as those attending trips to London (Drama) and Whitlingham (Y8 Pastoral)

Frettenham Primary School – School is partially opened to identified children who have been contacted

Harford Manor School – Closed to all pupils

Harleston Sancroft Academy – School will remain open for the following year groups only: Year 6, Year 11

Henderson Green Primary Academy – Reception, Yr 1, 2, 3 and 4 closed. Yr 5, 6 and Rockets classes open. School open for all pupils at lunchtime.

Hethersett Woodside Primary & Nursery School – Provision for vulnerable pupils and critical worker children

Hillside Avenue Primary & Nursery School – Open to Year 6 pupils only

Hobart High School – Closed to years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

Holt Community Primary School – The school will be open to YR, Y3, Y6 and children of critical workers. Y1, Y2, Y4 and Y5 will be closed.

Horsford C of E VA Primary School – Reception, Year 1 and 2, 3P, 4P, 5M and 6B are open. Vulnerable children from classes not open have been invited in.

King Edward VII Academy – Open for year 7, 11 6th form and vulnerable students

Lakenham Primary School – Closed to all children

Lionwood Infant & Nursery School – School is closed to all pupils except nursery due to teacher strikes

Lionwood Junior School – Closed due to strike action

Litcham School – The primary phase is open as usual (although any update will be made to affected parents by 8am) . The secondary phase is closed to all but those invited in (including year 11 taking food exam).

Little Melton Primary School – Partial closure – Y1 only

Lynn Grove Academy – School will be open for Year 11 and vulnerable pupils. Online remote learning for all other pupils.

Martham Academy and Nursery – Open for Year 6 and Nursery Only.

Mile Cross Community Primary School – School closed to all

Moorlands Church of England Primary Academy – Only open to children of critical workers and vulnerable children

Mousehold Infant And Nursery School – Fully Closed

Necton VA Primary School – Closed to all children

Nelson Academy – The nursery and main school will be closed due to strike action. Packham Class (ASD SRB) will be open

Nightingale Infant & Nursery School – Classes open: – Nursery -Raven Class All other classes are closed.

North Walsham High School – Closed

Notre Dame High School, Norwich – Notre Dame is open for pupils in Y7,11,12 and 13. The school is closed to pupils in Y8,9 and 10

Old Buckenham High School – Open only to year 11 students and students that have received an email invitation.

Old Catton CE Junior School- Open for identified only

Preston CE VC Primary School – Full closure

Queen’s Hill Primary & Nursery School – Only open for Year Reception, Year 1 and key vulnerable pupils

Recreation Road Infant School – Only open to vulnerable pupils

Reepham High School & College – School closed to all pupils other than Year 11

Robert Kett Primary School – Only open for invited children

Salhouse C Of E Primary School – Nursery, Years R, 1,2 and 3 should attend as usual. Closed for Years 4,5, and 6.

Saxlingham Nethergate CE VC Primary School – Partial closure due to industrial action by NEU members. School is open to Hedgehog Class and Owl Class only.

Sheringham Community Primary School & Nursery – Due to industrial action, the school is open fully to pupils in Nursery, Reception, Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y6 only

Smithdon High School – Closed to Years 7-9

Sprowston Infant School – Tadpoles and Shine class closed

St. Augustine’s Catholic Primary School – School partially open to vulnerable children and critical key workers

St. Mary’s Church Of England Junior Academy – School closed to all pupils

St. Mary’s Community Primary School – Years 5, 4, 2 and Rec are closed to all pupils

St. Nicholas Priory CE VA Primary School – School is closed for the following years only: Reception, year 1, year 2 and year 3. School is OPEN for Year 4, year 5 and year 6.

St. Peter’s C of E Primary Academy – Provision for key worker and vulnerable children only

Swaffham Church Of England Primary Academy – Partial closure of school as follows due to NEU strike action: EYFs class closed from 12 midday. Yr 1 class closed all day Year 3 class closed all day Year 5 class closed from 12 midday.

Terrington St. Clement Community School – Partial closure, x5 classes due to strike action.

The Bawburgh School – School is partially closed today

The Brooklands Short Stay School For Norfolk – The school is partially closed

The Compass – Belton Short Stay School For Norfolk – Partially closed

The Douglas Bader Short Stay School For Norfolk – The school is partially closed

The Hewett Academy Norwich – Hewett Academy is open for Years 7, 9 and 11 only

The Locksley School – The school is partially closed

The Pinetree School – The Pinetree School is partially closed due

The Rosebery Short Stay School For Norfolk – The school is partially closed

Thorpe St. Andrew School And Sixth Form – Open to Years 11, 12 and 13 and vulnerable students only

Tuckswood Academy And Nursery – Tuckswood Academy and Nursery is open to vulnerable pupils and Year 6 only. Breakfast and afterschool clubs are closed

West Walton Community Primary School – Only open for vulnerable children

White House Farm Primary School – Reception and year 2 classes closed, year 1 and year 3 open as usual.

White Woman Lane Junior School – Open to invited vulnerable children only

Suffolk

Ipswich Academy

Stowmarket High School

St Benedict’s Catholic School, Bury St Edmunds

St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Bury St Edmunds

Abbots Green Academy, Bury St Edmunds

Bacton Primary School, Bacton

Mendlesham Primary School, Mendlesham

Thurston Community College, Thurston

Worcester

Catshill First School & Nursery, Bromsgrove

Catshill Middle School, Bromsgrove

Chawson Community First School, Droitwich

Baxter College, Kidderminster (the school is open for Year 11, Year 12, Year 13 students. Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 students are not expected in school, and will be set remote learning.

Pinvin CE First School, Pershore (Pinvin Federation will be closed to Year2, Year 4. All other classes will be open as usual).

Red Hill CE Primary School in Worcester (a partial closure for two classes only – Reception class LJ and Class 5LB. All other classes open

St Nicholas’ CE Middle School in Pershore (St Nicholas CE School will be closed to Year 5 and one class in Year 6. All other classes will be open as normal).

Walkwood CE Middle School, Redditch (Walkwood will be open only to Year 6 pupils along with pupils who attend the Mainstream Autism Base. The school is closed to all other pupils).

Westlands First School, Droitwich (closed to Reception pupils but open as usual for Nursery, Years 1, 2, 3 & 4).

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