UK-Teachers’ strike dates: When and where are schools affected?
UK/April 29, 2023/Source: https://www.bbc.com/
Children and parents are facing more disruption as teachers in England go on strike again.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) in England are striking on Tuesday 2 May. It will be the fifth day of national strike action this year.
On previous strike days, more than half of England’s 22,000 schools have either closed or partially closed.
Most schools in Northern Ireland closed on Wednesday as teacher members of five unions went on strike.
Will my child’s school close?
In England, schools should open if possible, the government says.
NEU members who teach in sixth-form colleges will also take part.
In both England and Northern Ireland, teachers do not have to say in advance if they are striking, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about closures.
Head teachers decide whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning itself, once staff numbers are known.
There are no minimum staffing rules, and heads can use agency staff or volunteers, who do not have to follow the curriculum.
Schools may offer remote education, but this is not compulsory.
Can parents take time off and what else do you need to know?
In both England and Northern Ireland, you can ask for leave to care for “family and dependants”, including emergency childcare.
In England, schools have been asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers’ children. They are also asked to try to prevent or reduce any disruption to exams and other formal assessments.
The NEU has issued guidance which says it will support arrangements for head teachers to “provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed” on strike days so GCSE and A-level students can attend school for revision activities or exam practice.
Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals if they close.
What are teachers’ pay demands?
England
Unions want above-inflation increases, plus extra money to ensure any pay rises do not come from schools’ existing budgets.
Teachers’ salaries in England fell by an average of 11% between 2010 and 2022, after taking inflation into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says. Unions claim pay has fallen by as much as 23% in that time.
After the February strikes, the government made a new pay offer for school teachers, which included a £1,000 one-off payment and a 4.3% pay rise for most staff in September. The starting salary for teachers in England is also due to rise to £30,000 a year by September.
The Department for Education described it as a “fair and reasonable offer” and said that schools would receive an extra £2.3bn over the next two years.
But all four unions involved in the dispute rejected the offer. They said it was still not fully funded, meaning schools would have had to make cuts elsewhere to afford it.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the offer was no longer on the table, so the decision on pay would now be made by the independent pay review body.
Northern Ireland
Many teachers were offered 3.2% for 2021-22 and 2022-23.
But they have asked for a pay increase of 6% for 2021-22 and a rise of inflation plus 2% for 2022-23.
The NAHT, the NASUWT, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) and the NEU took part in the strike on 26 April.
It is the first time in its 125-year history that NAHT members have gone on strike over pay.
Teachers in those unions have also been taking action short of a strike since October 2022, which includes refusing to provide lunchtime supervision or to attend meetings held outside working hours.
Wales
Teachers from the NEU have agreed on an increased pay offer of 8% for 2022-23 (a 6.5% increase in annual pay, plus a one-off payment of 1.5%) – and a 5% increase in annual pay for 2023-24.
The NAHT in Wales has rejected the offer. The union is calling for talks to resume, and says funding arrangements remain a major concern for school leaders.
Since 1 February, NAHT members have also been taking action short of a strike.
Scotland
The dispute has ended in Scotland as unions have accepted a 7% rise for 2022-23, backdated to April. They have also accepted a 5% rise in April 2023, and a 2% rise in January 2024.
What do teachers earn?
Classroom teachers were paid an average of £38,982 in the 2021-22 school year in England, £39,009 in Wales and £40,026 in Scotland. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure.
The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders.
Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.
As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Employers also contribute 23.68% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 14.38%.
Will there be more teacher strikes?
The NEU is considering three further days of strike action in the summer term in England.
Teachers in England in the NASUWT union and members of the NAHT union will be reballoted on strike action.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is also due to ballot members on national strike action in England for the first time in its history.
Any action taken by ASCL would be in the autumn term.
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