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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:
Mummyoflittledragon · 17/01/2023 23:49

MrsHamlet · 17/01/2023 20:01

I quite fancy having a go at driving a train though...

I bet and the money to boot. The average train driver apparently earns almost 50k.

MajorCarolDanvers · 17/01/2023 23:50

In Scotland the schools are closed on strike days.

3rd day off for my kids tomorrow

LucyLastik · 17/01/2023 23:52

ChocolatemilkBertie · 17/01/2023 22:14

I’m a teacher - I’m sorry, what 9% pay rise?!

I’ve got many state school teacher friends.

One school my friends works in is having such a budget crisis that they have scrapped the cleaners. Teachers now have to clean their own classroom each day fully and have an assigned communal area. So instead of answering your emails, they’re cleaning the bloody toilets. Instead of carefully planning your child’s next steps, they’re hoovering corridors. Whilst you’re sitting there saying “teachers only work 9-3 what are they moaning about”, they’re waiting for the only mop and bucket to finally be free to clean the floor. And TAs are now mornings only, so no one else on hand. My friend and all her colleagues are striking, so if that’s your child’s school that no longer employs actual cleaners, well make your plans now…..

Another friends school is now closing on a Friday at lunch. All staff have PPA now on a Friday afternoon and parents now have to pay for child care on a Friday afternoon. There will be more like this if things continue.

Many schools are now freezing because the budget simply can’t afford the heating.

Independent sector isn’t so bad. Their budget will always be higher. That’s where I am and I will never likely return to state. A whole different set of problems though and the demands match. Similar to consultants leaving the NHS. The rich privileged children will have their pick of teachers while the state sector goes further down.

Anyone honestly saying “think of the children who have lost so much education and their mental suffering” - just going to say:

  • most state sector schools can hardly afford to provide a glue stick for you child. Your teachers are purchasing stationary items, printing things for your child with their own paper and ink because the schools can’t afford them, and buying resources. Many are now refusing to do so and they should because why should half their wages go to providing what should be bloody provided for them???
  • TAs are in massive shortage, no one can live off such a shit salary. If you want your child to stand a chance and actually have additional support in the classroom, support the strike!
  • Schools are cutting everywhere right now. Wave goodbye to any curriculum programs on subscription, wave goodbye to 5 day weeks, wave goodbye to quality staff, wave goodbye to adequate supervision, extra training, First Aid qualified staff, school trips, extra curricular clubs……this is what will disappear if teachers are not listened to and the government doesn’t start funding schools properly.
  • Support the strike if your child needs a 1:1. These are in short supply, no funding.
  • Like any profession, teachers need to be looked after. They don’t stop. There will be plenty of people on here reading this now who email the teacher at 10pm and expect a reply by breakfast, despite never looking at work emails themselves at home or doing anything for their job. It’s an ongoing treadmill that doesn’t stop. The holidays slow the treadmill down but they don’t stop it. If you want quality and knowledgable staff teaching your children then they need to be paid for it, recognised for it and the government needs to give enough for what they need to do it.

Teachers aren’t asking for a salary that buys them a mansion and multiple 5 star holidays a year. They are asking for a pay that recognises their responsibilities and a budget that actually provides for the needs of YOUR CHILDREN. Who do so many parents blame for anything going wrong with their child? Teachers, It’s a huge responsibility and it deserves better.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Noname99 · 17/01/2023 23:54

amonsteronthehill · 17/01/2023 20:42

I hope non-NEU teachers and HLTAs realise that they CAN and SHOULD refuse to cover a striking teacher! We are striking for their benefit too! Just because their unions and members didn't get enough ballots, doesn't mean that they won't benefit from any negotiations.

Can they? Can 'regular' TAs and 1:1 TAs refuse to cover as well? Legally?

Yes anyone can refuse to cover the duties of a member of staff on strike and must not face any direct or indirect consequences for this decision

Noname99 · 17/01/2023 23:58

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 17/01/2023 21:08

@WeAreAllLionesses - not sure how to, 'quote,' anymore on MN, but exactly right, although at our primary school the Head seems to know how many staff are in which union. Wasn't there a dispute about 9 years ago?

The union tell HTs as part of the pre-ballot communication. You get a letter from each union that tells you the number of staff in their union

Noname99 · 18/01/2023 00:01

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 17/01/2023 21:15

The NEU has TAs and support staff as part of the membership so they too will be on strike.

Show quote history

The NEU support staff ballot did not reach the legal requirement (50% return) so they are not included in the is action

Fossie · 18/01/2023 00:05

SleepingStandingUp · 17/01/2023 22:09

It is, but that doesn't mean teachers want to screw over parents who plan to drop the kids on the way to work. They're entitled to but that doesn't mean that's who they want to disrupt

Show quote history

Headteachers will make call before the day itself based on their knowledge and contingency plans. I expect ours to close as more than half the staff are neu. This includes office staff too in my school.

Noname99 · 18/01/2023 00:07

JaniceBingALing · 17/01/2023 21:26

Our school policy is that teachers plan 2 weeks in advance. Do I need to plan the lessons that should be taught on strike I would as usual even though I will be striking? For example, for the strikes on the 1st, I should submit my planning for that day tomorrow, where do I stand?

The union have stated they are entering negotiations with the govt so the strike is not a certainty. They have indicated they will postpone or withdraw if they feel the govt are ‘acting in good faith’ so I’d say you have to submit planning on the basis that it’s not a certainty unless the unions withdraw from negotiations.

As an aside, what sort of batshit crazy school asks for planning submitted at all, let alone two weeks in advance??!

noblegiraffe · 18/01/2023 00:10

Noname99 · 17/01/2023 23:58

The union tell HTs as part of the pre-ballot communication. You get a letter from each union that tells you the number of staff in their union

Show quote history

Heads can ask but unions do not have to answer.

Noname99 · 18/01/2023 00:12

Flameshame · 17/01/2023 21:28

I’d rather any additional government money went into the actual schools which are having such bad funding problems. Teachers got a nearly 9% payrise a few months ago. More than the 0% I got.

A teacher on the main pay scale can earn anything from £28,000 to £44,756.
On the upper scale, a teacher will earn anything from £40,625 to £53,482.

That is incorrect

To ask if schools will close on 1st Feb?
Ohmygosh83 · 18/01/2023 00:13

My sons school is on strike 31st, they also went on strike on 10th.

Noname99 · 18/01/2023 00:16

FunctionalSkills · 17/01/2023 21:32

I'd really like to know what dates.
Completely support teachers, more a practical issue.

1 February: All schools in England and Wales
14 February: All schools in Wales
28 February: North and north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber
1 March: East Midlands, West Midlands, and the NEU's eastern region
2 March: South-east and south-west England, and London
15 and 16 March: Two-day strike of all schools in England and Wales

newlove22 · 18/01/2023 00:18

Teacher here. Schools will close as legally staff do not have to inform the Head if they are in a Union and striking. Also teachers in different unions are told not to cover for striking teachers. Due to this School's will not know of staff numbers.

Noname99 · 18/01/2023 00:36

noblegiraffe · 18/01/2023 00:10

Heads can ask but unions do not have to answer.

Show quote history

You’ve misread the post I was answering …… The poster said
“although at our primary school the Head seems to know how many staff are in which union.”

I was answering this …. HT all got letter saying how many staff are in the union.

Forever42 · 18/01/2023 01:06

Noname99 · 17/01/2023 23:54

Yes anyone can refuse to cover the duties of a member of staff on strike and must not face any direct or indirect consequences for this decision

Show quote history

Other teaching staff can refuse to cover duties (if there employment is subject to the terms and conditions of the Burgundy Book). However, the DfE guidance is not that clear cut for Academies and Free Schools regarding cover by support staff. In my academy, support staff regularly cover teacher PPA time and other short-term absences, although the teacher will leave specified work. The wording from the DfE guidance is this:

The Specified Work Regulations 2012 require classes to be taught by qualified teachers in maintained schools and some academies. Free schools, academies established after 29 July 2012 and any academy established prior to this date that has agreed a change to their funding agreement, are exempt from these requirements. The Regulations do not prevent schools from using support staff to provide cover supervision or oversee alternative activities. Support staff are able to carry out 'specified work' provided they are subject to the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher, and the headteacher is satisfied that they have the skills required to carry out the work.

I will be asking the NEU to clarify whether support staff can refuse to provide supervision or oversee alternative activities if they are directed to do so. Regarding "specified work" striking teachers won't be providing any planning and it would be disappointing if other teaching staff in the school provided it so that support staff could cover, but not impossible. "Subject to the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher" is presumably also dependent on whether anyone is prepared to fulfill that role on a strike day.

I can foresee support staff being asked to provide supervision in a "childcare" type role but it will vary by individual schools whether this meets health and safety requirements.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2023 01:16

School staff (like nurses, paramedics etc) do actually care about their work. It drives me potty how many people outside the profession think we dgaf about the kids. We will, despite the strikes, do what we can to ensure children are properly educated. It’s not like anyone will say “I was supposed to teach momentum that day and it was a strike day so I won’t teach it at all this year”. We will, yet again, replan our lessons to account for the disruption.

The government have it within their power to prevent these strikes. Teachers (including me) are pretty easy to win over, and if they agreed to centrally fund the pay rises they’ve already given rather than taking from existing budgets it would probably be enough to avert strike action. Because the strikes are about conditions - and teachers can see that taking from the heating budget to fund the (below inflation) pay rises is making our working conditions worse.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2023 01:22

@Forever42 theres a whole different set of rules regarding employee rights in the instance of strike action. Nobody can be required to cover for a striking colleague. (At the moment.)

I sincerely hope that other teachers do not undermine the strike action by providing cover work. Given the cause of the action (chronic government underfunding of education) I really think most slt are in agreement with teachers, so even they may not step in to set cover work.

Forever42 · 18/01/2023 01:25

Good to know they can't be compelled to cover. I will make that clear to our support staff.

Original poster
cosied · 18/01/2023 07:05

Would senior leaders be included in the strike action ? Are they part of the same union as teachers?

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 18/01/2023 07:07

cosied · 18/01/2023 07:05

Would senior leaders be included in the strike action ? Are they part of the same union as teachers?

It depends. You have free choice over whether to join a union and which one you choose. Many heads join the heads union so that they have a different one to staff in case of a conflict, but there are. A few to choose from.

MrsHamlet · 18/01/2023 07:33

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/01/2023 23:49

I bet and the money to boot. The average train driver apparently earns almost 50k.

Show quote history

The average train driver is in charge of a heavy metal object travelling at speed with people on board. They deserve every penny.

noblegiraffe · 18/01/2023 07:34

Yeah but they don't even steer it, MrsH, looks like a piece of piss.

B1993 · 18/01/2023 07:41

cosied · 18/01/2023 07:05

Would senior leaders be included in the strike action ? Are they part of the same union as teachers?

Out of our KS2 unit (Y3-Y6), I know 5 out of the 6 members of staff are striking (including an member of SLT).

B1993 · 18/01/2023 07:41

Ooops, typo there... 5 out of 7 teachers

Loafbeginsat60 · 18/01/2023 07:43

jocktamsonsbairn

sorry yes highland is 31st for their rolling day and then 28th feb and 1st March. I thought it was the last day 2 days in Feb