As teachers in England are to go on strike, children and parents are facing more disruption. On Tuesday the 2nd of May Members of the national education union (NEU) in England was to go on strike. This will be the fifth day of national strike action this year.
Previously when strikes were held 22,000 England’s school have either closed or partially closed. The England government says that the schools should open if possible. During the strike in Northern Ireland most schools were closed.
For the first time in the current dispute, school leaders from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) unions and members of the NASUWT union who work in future- education colleges joined the strike.
Teachers do not have to say in advance if they are striking and no rules about when parents must be informed about closures. In Ireland and England, the decision to close schools is decided by the Head teachers. Once the staff numbers are known, parents may only be told about closure that morning. Heads can use volunteers or agency staff who does not have to follow the curriculum. Remote education is offered by schools but it’s not compulsory.
Leave can be taken by parents, for family emergency, child care and dependents in England and Northern Ireland. Reasonable requests should not be refused by the employer. Alternatively, you may be able to take a holiday of unpaid parental leave. Schools in England have been to prioritize vulnerable pupils and key worker’s children. They are asked to prevent or reduce disruption to exams and other formal assessments.
On strike days, the NEU has issued guidance which says it will support arrangements for head teachers to provide minimum level of teaching staff needed, so that the GCSE A-level students can attend school of exam practice and revision activities.
In 2021-2022 school year England classroom teachers were paid an average of pounds 38,982, in Scotland pounds 40,026 and in Wales pounds 39,009. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure during the same period. The average head teacher’s salary in England was pounds 74,095 and for other senior leaders’ pounds 57,117.
In England during the summer term, NEU is considering three further days of strike action. Members of the NAHT union and teachers in NASUWT union will be reballoted on strike action.
In England the first time in history, the association of school and college leaders (ASCL) is also due to ballot members on national strike action. Actions taken by the ASCL will be during autumn term.
