Full list of school closures as teachers launch string of strikes in days

SCHOOLS face closing their doors within days as teachers launch a string of strikes.

The decision on whether they will be open or not is left with head teachers in England, local councils in Scotland, and head teachers in consultation with local authorities in Wales.

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Parents and guardians are entitled to time off if normal arrangements are broken, but it would be up to the employer if they would pay for this time off.

In February and March strikes will take place across SEVEN days.

On February 1 school staff in England and Wales will stage their first walkout.

Then, strikes will go ahead on a regional basis on February 14 and 28, and March 1, 2.

Finally, nationwide walkouts in England and Wales will take place on March 15 and 16.

CORNWALL

Cornwall Council has confirmed it won’t publish a list of schools closed as a result of the strike action.

A spokesman for the local authority said: “It’s one for the individual schools to manage, who should be communicating with parents over any potential disruption.”

Redruth School has announced that it will remain open for its Year 11 and vulnerable students but all other year groups will have to stay at home.

Dr Jeremy Plumb, the headteacher at Saltash Community College also said the school will remain open to vulnerable children and year 11 students.

Penair School in Truro has warned parents to make arrangements after the dates for an industrial action were set out by the NEU teachers union.

In a letter to parents, headteacher James Davidson confirmed the secondary school, like many in Cornwall, will be shut on February 1, March 2 and March 15 and 16. However the closure will not affect Year 11 students so their GCSE learning is not affected.

COUNTY DURHAM

Some schools have already announced they will be closed during the industrial action but many others are also expected to be affected.

Bearpark Primary School
Cockton Hill Infant School 
Crook Primary and Nursery School

DEVON

A number of schools across Devon are set to close or partially shut next Wednesday (February 1) as teachers go on strike. 

Find out which schools are shut in Devon here,

EAST SUSSEX

A full list of the schools which will be closed or partially open can be found here.

ESSEX

NEU Essex Branch Secretary Murray Sackwild said that while the union couldn’t confirm the total number of those striking, he expected most secondary schools to close on Wednesday.

The latest information from the council can be found here.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Nearly 40 schools are set to be closed or partially shut so far in Gloucestershire.

You can find out the full list of those affected here.

HAMPSHIRE

A number of Hampshire schools have announced that they are set to close due to the upcoming teachers’ strike next week.

The Romsey School Academy – Partial closure – The school will remain open for Year 11 only
Test Valley School – Partial closure – School will remain open for Year 11 only
South Wonston Primary School – full closure
The Coppice Spring Academy – full closure
Netley Marsh Church of England Infant School – partially closure Year 2 class will be closed
The Mountbatten School – partial closure
Kings’ School, Winchester – full closure

HEREFORDSHIRE

Kingstone High School said year 11 were expected to attend as normal.

It will also be open to pupils from any year who were on the special educational needs and/or disabilities register, receive free school meals or is a child in care.

Children in years seven and eight whose parents work in the emergency services or wider NHS will also be allowed to go to school.

KENT

A number of schools in the county are planning to shut completely, while others have vowed to remain open – but for many a decision on keeping lessons running has yet to be taken.

You can use this search tool to find out which schools will remain closed in Kent.

LINCOLNSHIRE

So far, only one school has informed the council it will be partially closed on February 1.

Grantham Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School will be partially closed on Wednesday 1 February.

Students in years 8 and 10 will remain at home with the exception of vulnerable and key worker children from these year groups. The school will remain open for all students in years 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13.   

LONDON

People are advised to check with their local authority for information on school closures in your area.

Barking and Dagenham

Barnet

Bexley

Brent

Bromley

Camden

City of London

Croydon

Ealing

Enfield

Greenwich

Hackney

Hammersmith & Fulham

Haringey

Harrow

Havering

Hillingdon

Hounslow

Islington

Kensington & Chelsea

Kingston upon Thames

Lambeth

Lewisham

Merton

Newham

Redbridge

Richmond upon Thames

Southwark

Sutton

Tower Hamlets

Waltham Forest

Wandsworth

Westminster

MERSEYSIDE

Archbishop Beck Catholic College – partially open to Year 11
Gateacre School – fully closed
Irby Primary School – fully closed
Kirkby High School – fully closed
Lawrence Community Primary School – only open o Nursery, Class 2M & Class 5B
The Liverpool Blue Coat School – fully closed
St Julie’s Catholic High School – closed to students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
West Derby School – fully closed

NORFOLK

Parents have been warned to expect last minute closure because of the strike.

However, some schools have already said they will close, while others have warned that they may have to merge classes, introduce remote learning or hold ‘activity days’, rather than curriculum-focused teaching.

All the latest information can be found here.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

James Peacock Infant and Nursery school – fully closed but provision will be made for vulnerable children
Toot Hill School – intends to stay open but has warned parents it may have to partially close

OXFORDSHIRE

Individual schools will contact parents with an update on Friday, January 27, to advise of their intended closures.

It has been recommended that parents keep in touch with the schools or colleges of their children.

Check the council website here for the latest information.

SOMERSET

Numerous schools in Somerset have already said if they were either be fully or partially closed during the strike action.

A full list of the schools can be found here.

STAFFORDSHIRE

Biddulph High School will be closed to most pupils.

The school will only be open for a year 11 external exam and two year 11 mock exams.

Looked-after children, children in receipt of free school meals, and the children of ‘critical workers’ will also be able to attend school.

SUSSEX

So far, only a handful of schools have made any announcement regarding the strike.

Broadwater CE Primary School in Worthing (Fully closed)

Denton Primary School in Newhaven (Fully closed)

Ocklynge Junior School un Eastbourne (Fully closed)

Polegate School in Polegate (Fully closed)

St Nicolas and St Mary CE Primary School in Shoreham-by-Sea (Fully closed)

YORKSHIRE

So far, only a handful of schools have announced they will be shut, or partially closed during the strike.

Home Farm Primary School (Feb 1, partial closure)
The Calder Learning Trust (Feb 1)
Todmorden High School (Feb 1)
Newsome Academy (Feb 1, partial closure)
Shire Oak C of E Primary School
Broom Valley Community School (Feb 1, partial closure)
Minsthorpe Community College, A Specialist Science College (Feb 1, partial closure)
Kettlethorpe High School (Feb 1, partial closure)
Woodthorpe Primary School (Feb 1, partial closure)

Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union, previously said: “We have continually raised our concerns with successive education secretaries about teacher and support staff pay and its funding in schools and colleges, but instead of seeking to resolve the issue they have sat on their hands.

“It is disappointing that the Government prefers to talk about yet more draconian anti-strike legislation, rather than work with us to address the causes of strike action.”

Blasting NEU members’ decision to abandon pupils by striking, former Education Minister Jonathan Gullis said: “The result is a sad day for parents, especially those on low incomes who will be forced to lose a day’s pay if schools close, and a life damaging day for pupils, who continue to made to suffer at the hands of union bosses who don’t care about the futures of our young people.”

He added: “I hope teachers do the right thing, go into school, and continue to transform the life chances of young people for the better across our great country.”

Teachers are the latest public sector workers to threaten strike action due to a major dispute over pay.

Ministers have offered experienced staff a 5% hike and new teachers an 8.9% rise for this year.

But union chiefs want salaries up by an inflation busting 12%.

Last week further school strikes were avoided after not enough teachers belonging to the NASWUT union balloted for industrial action.

While 88.5% voted in favour, only 42% of members turned out to vote – below the legal threshold of 50%.

Union bosses last night gave the Government two weeks to up their pay offer or face huge disruption next month.

But they were slammed for hurting pupils still scrambling to catch up after lockdown.

Cabinet Minister Mark Harper warned more time out of lessons was “the last thing” kids needed.

He blasted: “Any strikes, anything disrupting children’s education, would be very regrettable.”

The prospect of school strikes comes as teachers in Scotland today began 16 days of strike action.

Meanwhile, ambulance workers, nurses and rail staff remain locked in major pay disputes with the government.

Last week thousands of ambulance workers walked out of work for the second time in one month.

And on Wednesday thousands of nurses will withdraw their labour from the NHS.

School strikes are set to leave hard-pressed parents either forking out for childcare or taking time off work.

Former teacher and Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “Children and their parents shouldn’t have to suffer because of the politicised actions of left-wing union leaders.

“I’m sure most teachers agree, which is why the recent NASUWT strike ballot failed to reach the required threshold.

“Other groups such as the NEU now need to realise that too, rather than playing politics with the prospects of our pupils.

“Unions also need to consider the effect this will have on childcare and therefore the wider economy.”

Conservative MP Miriam Cates added: “I think teacher strikes would be absolutely appalling, especially after the pandemic.

“If we didn’t have clear evidence on the harms of missing school before Covid, then we certainly do now — and to knowingly put children through that again is morally wrong.”

The independent Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souz said she’s “disappointed” with today’s result.

“I know the decision to strike will not have been taken lightly for any teacher, and the vote has been far from unanimous – but it comes in the wake of huge disruption from the pandemic and will add to the challenges already faced by so many pupils who are catching up on lost learning.

“I urge those choosing to take industrial action to take all possible steps to minimise the impact on children and families.

“I am grateful to all those teachers and support staff who continue to prioritise their pupils’ wellbeing and I want to see an end to the dispute as soon as possible.”

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