Striking teachers / Closed classes

[CuppaTeaNeeded]

AIBU to ask, if you have a school where around 50% of the teachers are striking (which I fully support), have they continued to close the classes of the teaching staff striking or mixed up which classes are closed and moved teachers that are available round?

In my child’s school (Scotland) the whole school had been closed to all pupils on strike days.

No, because technically the kids who are in, won't be receiving any educational benefit as the teachers aren't required to follow the national curriculum.

I think that's bullshit though, because most teachers will have plans to follow if they're not striking.

I sincerely hope the former.

Unfortunately some school management will undermine the strike action and some teachers will go along with that.

Closed classes in DD2's school and the one I work in.

Primary school- non striking classes in, secondary school, closed to y7-10 with non striking teachers setting work to do at home. Y11-13 students in and do self study for any striking teacher periods. Taught as normal by non striking teachers.

Those in the unions not striking have been told they should refuse to do anything other than teach and plan for their normal classes and do nothing to cover striking teachers. It undermines the strike action otherwise. Therefore schools should not be asking staff to mix classes etc.

My kids' primary school have shut the classes of the teachers who are striking. Teachers not on strike are in and teaching as normal. I don't know what the situation is with TAs whose classes are shut, and whether they will still get paid (I very much hope so!)

@CuppaTeaNeeded year 7, 11, 12 and 13 will be in school. All other vulnerable and those whose parents are key workers are also in school.
For the rest they are supposed to log on to teams.
With the last strike, DS said some (but not many of the usual staff) teachers were in and the rest were cover staff.

It will depend. It's not always about numbers.

If things such as statutory duties can't be fulfillled eg safeguarding etc or can't be feasible

Also some teachers who are parents might ask for parental leave because their children's teachers are on strike. Also there are strict rules as to how existing teachers can be used for 'cover' as well. There would be a lot of head scratching and connotations before the decision is made.

Yes TAs in as normal, not covering and getting paid.

DD’s primary school, the classes whose teachers were not striking were in as normal and had lessons as normal. Vulnerable children were added to these classes for the day.

DH’s secondary school, the school was open for y10 and 11 and vulnerable pupils, who I believe were doing revision/self study under supervision rather than proper lessons, as teachers are not meant to cover for striking colleagues.

DDs school is completely open. All DD can say is her teacher is in, no idea how they are covering classes (the school quite rightly refuses to say which staff are absent)

DS2’s primary school is open, with the head covering for the one striking teacher.

DS1’s secondary is closed, except for y11 (who have exams or ‘supervised study’ with their own teacher or SLT) and Y12/Y13 who have classes when their own teachers are available or independent study when not.

No teacher should be covering for striking colleagues, and no decent head would ask them to.

On the first strike day, if childs class (secondary school) had a striking teacher then slt went around the school checking on them but ds yr10 said they had whole lessons inc both registrations with no teachers. The next strike day the school have said yrs 9&10 are to work from home and work will be set. Thankfully both my two are in yrs 9&10 as I can only imagine the sulking if one got to stay home and the other didn't 😂

The school I teach in is fully closed. Union members didn't disclose to leadership how many were striking. This way, the strike has the maximum impact.

They can’t mix up the classes because that would mean the non striking teachers covering for their striking colleagues - which shouldn’t happen.

I understand it’s frustrating, one of my dc is in school & the other isn’t & this pattern will stand for all the strike days but it is what it is. I support the teachers striking, and it needs to have an impact for it to effect change.

I'm a teacher. My dc's school closes altogether. In my school they close to all years except y7, y11 and y13. I'm not 100% sure how they cover the y7 and y11 classes whose teachers are striking, but I think SLT cover them.

Primary school and its closed other than certain years (reception and 6) and vulnerable and key worker children.

You do not cover the classes of striking teachers if not striking and you do not set work if you are.

Well done.

Guidance schools in England are issued with by the Department of Education
www.gov.uk/government/publications/handling-strike-action-in-schools

All classes were open as usual and covered by TA's - children had a lovely day painting and playing, I felt it undermined the strike action and may not send dc in this Wednesday- I'm a peri teacher and was in as normal doing my normal activities

This. My school has offered ta's the option of working from home on strike days or striking without pay. I choose the latter. I will never ever work on a strike day as it completely undermines the strike. I have to stand in solidarity with my colleagues.

It would be helpful if you could clarify whether you are referring to primary or secondary schools. IME on the most recent strike day if secondaries were open at all it was for y11 and y13 only, plus vulnerable students whose parents had requested a place.

In my school classes where the teacher is striking are closed for the day.
Those children receive no school that day as their teacher has withdrawn their labour. The teacher should not be asked to provide work for their class for that day.
Other teachers and TAs should not be asked to cover for a striking teacher, and should not be providing work for the classes, whether in person or online.

Dd is working at a school which is part of an academy trust. All schools in the trust are fully closed on the strike days. Non striking teachers and other teaching/support staff go into school and do other work.