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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if schools will close on 1st Feb?

354 replies

cosied · 17/01/2023 14:36

National teachers strike on 1st Feb so does that mean the schools are not open that day?

Has anyone received any communication from their schools relating to what impact the strikes may have?

OP posts:
Covidwoes · 18/01/2023 19:26

@Swissmountains You sound like you love teaching working conditions! Why aren't you one? Do tell.

PurpleFlower1983 · 18/01/2023 20:22

Pleasepleasepleaseno · 18/01/2023 12:58

I'd really like a teacher to comment on my post from earlier. I DO support teachers. I know it's a tough job and I know that schools are underfunded and there's a massive recruitment problem that will probably only be resolved by increasing pay and I want kids to get the best education possible
BUT
I really think teachers should have to tell the head or the head should just go ahead and decide to shut the school in advance so that we can all plan our lives.
I can't go to work if school is shut. Which means I won't get paid. I could just about accept that being the case because I do support teachers (although I get paid a LOT less and really can't afford to lose the days pay) but if I don't know then I'm going to have to lose a day's pay on the off chance. Which is shit frankly. And I'm sure I'm not alone. surely teachers care about parents in this situation enough to just tell the head numbers?
Also recruitment is a problem everywhere at the moment. Brexit maybe? We've been understaffed at the charity I work for for ages. We advertise a position and either no interest or at least nobody suitable. We're all overworked and I think there's not enough workers in the country as a whole at the moment so I'm really not sure that striking is going to fix the issue, even if you're successful and get the funding. I don't think the government will back down though I'm afraid. There's just too many strikes at once across so many industries.

We have all told the head in our school but I do respect others right not too. We are an ex-mining community and largely have the support of the parents so feel it is fair.

PurpleFlower1983 · 18/01/2023 20:23

*others’

Wheelz46 · 18/01/2023 20:56

@Swissmountains You make it sound so simple, when really it isn't. What would you do about my child who has social anxiety and has selective mutism? Chances are he wouldn't talk to you, what would you do if you asked him a question and he didn't answer?

Just to add, I support the teachers rights to strike (I am not a teacher).

careerchange456 · 18/01/2023 21:03

Swissmountains · 18/01/2023 13:50

I am hiding this thread now, because the whole topic of teacher strikes makes me feel incandescent. I am utterly sick of the greed in this country.

Not read the thread to the end so not sure if @Swissmountains actually hid the thread but just wanted to say you absolute twat.

Do you not know that teachers are not allowed to strike about the shitshow that is education in 2023? We're not allowed to strike about the buildings or the lack of resources or the absolute crap that our classes have to suffer because of the complete failure of the Tories to find education.

The only thing we are allowed to strike about is pay and conditions.

So of course the strike is framed as being about pay deals you ignorant twat.

Maybe you missed the crucial line that the NEU are trying to negotiate a FULLY FUNDED pay deal?? Why?? Because the government have agreed a pay deal but provided absolutely £0 towards this years budget to pay for it. So what will happen?? The money has to come out of pots that have already been allocated. So who loses out? THE CHILDREN!! And who is to blame? THE GOVERNMENT, not the teachers FFS!!!!

If I could strike about the lack of resources, the £££ I spend every month on resourcing my classroom, the shitty curriculum that is completely unreasonable for 5 year olds, Ofsted, etc, I would. And so would probably every teacher I know.

But we can't.

We can only strike about pay.

HTH

(I feel like I'm explaining this to my year 1 class. No, they would have got it quicker...)

DelphiniumBlue · 18/01/2023 21:20

Swissmountains · 18/01/2023 10:26

There will always be so many people that will love a job that ends during school hours meaning they can avoid vast childcare costs, which is now virtually impossible to find, and offers holidays for half the year.

I am not worried about teaching supply at all. Plenty of those working in harder conditions for less money and less holiday with find teaching attractive.

I don't suppose the teachers will cope in the real world of commerce when they see just how hard it is to make money, stay relevant and all on two weeks annual leave a year.

Show quote history

2 weeks annual leave? ? What are you talking about? The legal minimum amount of leave in UK is 4 weeks. All the graduates I know ( and I know many as I have 3 DC in their 20s) get much more holiday than this and are on much higher salaries working fewer hours in a more comfortable environment. And they can go to the loo whenever they want. Most of them get weekends and evenings off too, and are not at work at 7am.

Oxterguff · 18/01/2023 22:22

careerchange456 · 18/01/2023 21:03

Not read the thread to the end so not sure if @Swissmountains actually hid the thread but just wanted to say you absolute twat.

Do you not know that teachers are not allowed to strike about the shitshow that is education in 2023? We're not allowed to strike about the buildings or the lack of resources or the absolute crap that our classes have to suffer because of the complete failure of the Tories to find education.

The only thing we are allowed to strike about is pay and conditions.

So of course the strike is framed as being about pay deals you ignorant twat.

Maybe you missed the crucial line that the NEU are trying to negotiate a FULLY FUNDED pay deal?? Why?? Because the government have agreed a pay deal but provided absolutely £0 towards this years budget to pay for it. So what will happen?? The money has to come out of pots that have already been allocated. So who loses out? THE CHILDREN!! And who is to blame? THE GOVERNMENT, not the teachers FFS!!!!

If I could strike about the lack of resources, the £££ I spend every month on resourcing my classroom, the shitty curriculum that is completely unreasonable for 5 year olds, Ofsted, etc, I would. And so would probably every teacher I know.

But we can't.

We can only strike about pay.

HTH

(I feel like I'm explaining this to my year 1 class. No, they would have got it quicker...)

Show quote history

@careerchange456
Well said!
I’ve sat here reading @Swissmountains posts, what a complete tool!
Obviously completely clueless about the state of education. Absolutely no way the ‘niece’ exists either! I’ve worked with some shit teachers in my 20 years of teaching but I’ve never met anyone who rocks up at 8:30 and leaves at 4!
She clearly doesn’t have the intelligence to realise that if it was such a wonderful career then teachers wouldn’t be leaving in their droves! 🙄

MistressIggi · 19/01/2023 06:35

There will always be so many people that will love a job that ends during school hours meaning they can avoid vast childcare costs, which is now virtually impossible to find, and offers holidays for half the year.
Holiday are long, but I don't think they're for 26 weeks a year!
And I'd love to know more about avoiding childcare costs as a teachers during term time. Do you think we can ever do drop offs and pick ups? I've had to pay for wrap around care for years.

Original poster
cosied · 19/01/2023 07:10

In terms of a resolution can I ask what the unions have asked for and what we think it would take for the strikes to end?

Fully support strikes by teachers.

Shame that the teaching assistants are not able to strike also.

OP posts:
ProtestantsHateAbba · 19/01/2023 07:18

I’m assuming that schools will closeand have arranged for my in-laws to look after my youngest as I’m working that day. If it turns out my kids schools don’t close then cushty. But at least I have a back up plan.

surreygirl1987 · 19/01/2023 07:20

*Do you not know that teachers are not allowed to strike about the shitshow that is education in 2023? We're not allowed to strike about the buildings or the lack of resources or the absolute crap that our classes have to suffer because of the complete failure of the Tories to find education.

The only thing we are allowed to strike about is pay and conditions.

So of course the strike is framed as being about pay deals you ignorant twat.

Maybe you missed the crucial line that the NEU are trying to negotiate a FULLY FUNDED pay deal?? Why?? Because the government have agreed a pay deal but provided absolutely £0 towards this years budget to pay for it. So what will happen?? The money has to come out of pots that have already been allocated. So who loses out? THE CHILDREN!! And who is to blame? THE GOVERNMENT, not the teachers FFS!!!!

If I could strike about the lack of resources, the £££ I spend every month on resourcing my classroom, the shitty curriculum that is completely unreasonable for 5 year olds, Ofsted, etc, I would. And so would probably every teacher I know.

But we can't.

We can only strike about pay.

HTH

(I feel like I'm explaining this to my year 1 class. No, they would have got it quicker...)*

Very well said. Some people haven't got a clue what's going on.

teacher45646 · 19/01/2023 07:24

No one in this thread seems to understand our pay rise has not been funded by the government, but taken directly from ALREADY STRETCHED school budgets, effectively reducing the money used on your children’s educational resources.

itsgettingweird · 19/01/2023 08:07

Do you not know that teachers are not allowed to strike about the shitshow that is education in 2023? We're not allowed to strike about the buildings or the lack of resources or the absolute crap that our classes have to suffer because of the complete failure of the Tories to find education.

The only thing we are allowed to strike about is pay and conditions.

So of course the strike is framed as being about pay deals you ignorant twat.

Maybe you missed the crucial line that the NEU are trying to negotiate a FULLY FUNDED pay deal?? Why?? Because the government have agreed a pay deal but provided absolutely £0 towards this years budget to pay for it. So what will happen?? The money has to come out of pots that have already been allocated. So who loses out? THE CHILDREN!! And who is to blame? THE GOVERNMENT, not the teachers FFS!!!!

If I could strike about the lack of resources, the £££ I spend every month on resourcing my classroom, the shitty curriculum that is completely unreasonable for 5 year olds, Ofsted, etc, I would. And so would probably every teacher I know.

But we can't.

We can only strike about pay.

This such a great explanation I felt it needs repeating and should be read by everyone

Plumbear2 · 19/01/2023 09:10

Shinyandnew1 · 18/01/2023 19:20

But how would that work? My child has 5 lessons a day, what if only 2 teachers where in school. Would my child be expected to go back and forth from home to to attend the lessons. It makes far more sense to you the teachers who are in to teach specific year groups.

This is your post. What was your actual point then?

Read the post I was responding to

Cockerdileteeth · 19/01/2023 09:43

I'm not a teacher but I understand what unions are and aren't allowed to strike about (ie it has to be a "trade dispute" as defined in legislation so it's limited to pay and employment conditions). So I get why the teachers' strike has to be framed that way. A teacher upthread said their school is in a former mining community and the parents are supportive - they'll know all that stuff without being told, too. But it's a fair point that many people work in places where unions aren't a thing any more, they have no personal or family experience or knowledge of unions, and won't automatically get the points that @careerchange456 makes so eloquently. Fab post.

Khill87 · 19/01/2023 11:23

Because strikes are a means of causing disruption. Giving the employer notice to minimise the disruption defeats the purpose of the industrial action.

templesit · 23/01/2023 22:06

Has anyone been told by their school yet?

Mine hasn't said anything but I'm keen to know because of childcare!

PuttingDownRoots · 23/01/2023 22:16

templesit · 23/01/2023 22:06

Has anyone been told by their school yet?

Mine hasn't said anything but I'm keen to know because of childcare!

Primary open, nothing from Secondary

CrossbowsAndButterflies · 23/01/2023 22:54

So depressing reading posts by @Swissmountains, absolutely embodying the saying "better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubts.”

@Lougle the maths challenge is definitely still going ahead whatever happens, we were discussing it this morning. It is a relatively small group of students so even if we close (and like everyone else we have no idea yet) provision will be made for them.

mistopheles · 23/01/2023 22:56

We have been given four strike dates, first of which is Thursday.

Smoky1107 · 23/01/2023 23:03

Our sixth form is closing. We heard today. Exam years will be in as normal

KickboxingWanker · 23/01/2023 23:13

DS’s Primary school closed on the 1st Feb for all but one year group.

Lovinmyblanket · 24/01/2023 08:05

Smoky1107 · 23/01/2023 23:03

Our sixth form is closing. We heard today. Exam years will be in as normal

They might be in, but probably not as normal if their teacher is striking - would just be doing revision

Smoky1107 · 24/01/2023 08:25

Lovinmyblanket most likely. Fully support them and I know my daughter will get in with her work at home

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