What will teaching strikes mean for Bradford schools? NEU latest

The picket lines could be filled with teachers from every single school in the district, the National Education Union (NEU) said, after hundreds of ballots and new members.

Letters from school leaders to parents hint at the urgent planning taking place behind the scenes, with many schools unsure of how many teachers will take part in the strike and if they will be able to open.

The first day of strikes over pay and staffing will take place on Wednesday, February 1 - but questions remain over what that means for pupils and parents.

Some schools have already contacted parents and guardians about potential disruption.

In a letter, Diane Smith, headteacher at Heaton St. Barnabas’ C.E. Primary School, said she was “in the process of assessing the impact that strike action may have on staffing levels”.

Mrs Smith said: “Some schools will stay open and others will face full or partial closure depending on a risk assessed health and safety judgement, based on staffing levels.

“We are unable to confirm plans for our school at this point and it is possible that different arrangements may be in place for each date. I would advise you to make tentative childcare arrangements for the above dates in case it is needed.”

Meanwhile Shirley Watson, CEO of Beckfoot Trust, confirmed her intention “to keep schools open wherever possible”.

The school executive said the decision to remain open relies on sites’ abilities to meet health and safety requirements for pupils and staff who do not wish to strike.

Mrs Watson said: “As a result, the Trust are currently in the process of planning for the upcoming strikes and considering whether the school may close or partially close on those days.

“In the event that it becomes necessary to close or partially close the school, we will endeavour to provide remote education. Further, in the event of a partial close, we will be prioritising the attendance of vulnerable children and pupils close to formal assessments.

“Planning is however likely to take some time as rules relating to industrial action mean that we are unable to accurately identify the exact number of staff that are likely to engage in strike action.

“We realise that this may cause you disruption, for which we apologise. We wish to assure you that we will be taking all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to pupil learning.”

Why are teachers going on strike?

Teachers gather at The Mound in central Edinburgh to highlight the need for a fair pay deal for Scotland's teachers as they continue to take strike action in a dispute over pay. (Image: PA)

Tom Bright, the Bradford branch secretary of the NEU, confirmed the union has notified all of the schools in Bradford.

Primary schools are likely to be the most-affected, Mr Bright revealed, with a majority of members opting to strike.

Secondary schools could be less-impacted after many sites failed to reach the minimum turnout needed for a walkout.

Mr Bright said: “This is in everybody’s interest. No teacher wants to go on strike. No teacher wants a child to be disadvantaged but we’re talking about the education here. If this doesn’t happen what will happen is the Government will go, ‘Ok, we can continue with the cost cutting’. What will happen is support staff will be cut in schools, less support for disadvantaged children. That’s what will happen if we don’t go ahead.

“The Government will claim they’re giving extra money to schools. The Government will say, we’re not a bottomless pit, but we need to talk about what do we value in society?”

It comes after the Department for Education (DofE) unveiled plans to “boost” the core schools budget by £2 billion in the chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Speaking in November 2022, a DofE spokesperson said: "The IFS has already highlighted the uplift will allow school spending to return to at least 2010 levels in real terms - the highest spending year in history - meaning in real terms we are putting more into schools than ever before.”

But this fund doesn’t scratch the surface of many schools’ budgets, Mr Bright argued, amid the rising costs of food, utilities, resources, and staffing.

Mr Bright said: “They will always claim ‘We’re investing additional money in schools like never before’. But that’s partly because as the number of children is going up. Per child that money is going down.

“What’s really worrying me is we’ve got a lot of teachers telling us they can’t afford to go on strike. The Government are counting on the strike not being effective.”

In response to this article, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Strike action is highly damaging to children’s education, particularly following the disruption that children have experienced over the past two years.

“We have been clear we want to support school leaders to do everything they can to keep as many children in school as possible."

Is your school set to go on strike? Email newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk or contact us here.

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