Teachers are once again set to take part in strike action in an ongoing pay dispute with the Government, with schools across the country set to be impacted by the move.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking the action as they call on the Government to give teaching staff an above-inflation pay rise amid the cost of living crisis. It comes after staff walked out in their hundreds for seven days of industrial action earlier this month in the biggest strike of its kind in a decade.
The walkout on February 28 is expected to be followed by further industrial action in March if the union's demands to the Government are not met. Many schools across the North East will be affected by the most recent action, with closures or partial closures taking place across the region on Tuesday.
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Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: "As a Government, we have made a serious offer to the leaders of the National Education Union and Royal College of Nursing: pause this week’s strikes, get round the table and talk about pay, conditions and reforms. It is hugely disappointing the NEU has thus far refused this serious offer and has not joined the Royal College of Nurses in calling off strikes.
"Instead of sitting round a table discussing pay, the NEU will once again cause disruption for children and families in the North. Children deserve to be in school, and further strike action is simply unforgivable, especially after everything children have been through because of the pandemic."
The below list of school closures was correct at the time of publishing according to the information given on council websites, but may be subject to change. Sunderland City Council did not have a list of schools taking part in industrial action on their website at the time of writing - ChronicleLive has contacted the council and will update the below list if further school closures are confirmed.
Parents and carers are advised by councils to contact their child's school directly for their arrangements if they are not included in the list of closures, or if they are unsure whether or not their child should attend.
Newcastle
Newcastle City Council warns: "When school staff strike it can be difficult to confirm exactly what impact this will have as any decision to strike is up to individuals and staff are not obliged to inform schools in advance if they will be at work."
The schools that have told Newcastle City Council they will be closed according to the council's website are:
- Bridgewater Primary School
- Cheviot Primary School
- Chillingham Road Primary School
- Dinnington First School
- Gosforth Park First School
- Hadrian School
- Knop Law Primary School
- Milecastle Primary School
- South Gosforth First School
- St Catherine's RC Primary School
- Throckley Primary School
- Walbottle Academy
- Westerhope Primary School
North Tyneside
A number of schools across North Tyneside are either closed or partially open on Tuesday. A school that is 'partially open' means it is either open to vulnerable children, children of key workers or to selected classes. North Tyneside Council advises to contact schools directly for further information.
CLOSED to pupils:
- Balliol Primary School
- Denbigh Community Primary School
- Hadrian Park Primary School
- Southlands School
- St Aidan's RCVA Primary School
- Star of the Sea RCVA Primary School
PARTIALLY OPEN to selected pupils:
- Backworth Park Primary School
- Battle Hill Community Primary School
- Beacon Hill School
- Benton Dene Primary
- Benton Dene School
- Burnside Business & Enterprise College
- Christ Church CE Primary School
- Churchill Community College
- Collingwood Primary School
- Coquet Park First School
- Fordley Community Primary School
- Forest Hall Primary School
- Grasmere Academy
- Greenfields Community Primary School
- Holystone Primary School
- Kings Priory
- Langley First School
- Longbenton High School
- Marden Bridge Middle School
- Marine Park First School
- Monkhouse Primary School
- Moorbridge Unit
- North Gosforth Academy
- Preston Grange Primary School
- Rockcliffe First School
- Silverdale School
- South Wellfield First School
- Southridge First School
- Spring Gardens Primary School
- St Bernadette's RCVA Primary School
- St Columba's RCVA Primary School
- St Cuthbert's RCVA Primary School
- St Joesph's RCVA Primary School
- St Mary's (NS) RCVA Primary School
- St Thomas More Catholic High School
- St. Bartholomew's C of E Primary School
- Valley Gardens Middle School
- Wallsend St Peter's CE Primary School
- Wellfield Middle School
- Western Community Primary School
- Westmoor Primary School
- Whitley Bay High School
OPEN to pupils:
- Amberley Community Primary School
- Appletree Gardens First School
- Bailey Green Primary School
- Burradon Primary School
- Carville Primary School
- Cullercoats Primary School
- George Stephenson High School
- Hazlewood Community Primary School
- Ivy Road Primary School
- John Spence Community High School
- King Edward Primary School
- Marden High School
- Monkseaton High School
- Monkseaton Middle School
- New York Primary School
- Norham High School
- Percy Main Primary School
- Redesdale Primary School
- Richardson Dees
- Riverside Primary School
- Shiremoor Primary School
- Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School
- St Mary's (FH) RCVA Primary School
- Stephenson Memorial Community Primary School
- Wallsend Jubilee Community Primary School
- Waterville Primary School
- Whitehouse Primary School
- Whitley Lodge First School
South Tyneside
Schools open for non-striking staff but CLOSED to pupils:
- Harton Academy
PARTIALLY OPEN schools:
- Beacon Centre
- Jarrow School
- Boldon School
- East Boldon Junior School
- Hebburn Lakes
- Westoe Crown Primary
- Hadrian Primary
- Forest View Primary
- Hebburn Comprehensive School
FULLY OPEN schools where pupils are expected to attend as normal:
- Ridgeway Primary Academy
- Holy Trinity CE Academy
- Stanhope Primary
- Toner Avenue Primary
- Valley View Primary School
- Laygate Community School
- Hedworthfield Primary
- Clervaux Nursery
- Helen Gibson Nursery
- Bamburgh School
- Simonside Primary
- Biddick Hall Junior School
Gateshead
Gateshead Council warns parents: "Please be aware that the decision to close a school is taken by the head teacher, and in some circumstances a school may choose not to report the closure or changed arrangement to us." Here is the full list of closures listed on the council's website:
- St Albans Catholic Primary School will be closed to year 2, year 4 and year 6, due to strike action, all other year groups will be open as usual.
- Gibside School will be closed to the following classes; Bumblebee Class, Butterfly Class, Caterpillar Class, Robin Class, Koala Class, Frog Class, Squirrel Class, Dragonfly Class, Ladybird Class, Whale 2 Class, Elephant Class, Panda Class, Rhino Class, Tiger Class, Giraffe Class, and Gorilla Class.
- The Drive Primary School will be partially closed to year 4 and year 6 students, due to strike action.
- Caedmon Primary School will be closed to all students apart from year 6, due to strike action.
- Windy Nook Primary School will only be open to nursery, reception, year 2 and year 6 some vulnerable pupils, the school will be closed to all other students.
- High Spen Primary School will be partially closed due to strike action. The school will be closed to the following nursery, reception, year 1, year 4, year 5 and year 6 pupils.
- Rowlands Gill Primary School will be partially closed due to strike action, classes 3M and 6B will be closed to pupils. All other classes will remain open.
- Whickham Parochial Church of England Primary School will be open to pupils with the exception of year 2 which will close at 11am.
- Birtley East Community Primary School will be partially closed, the nursery, reception, and year 6 will be closed to pupils. All other classes will remain open.
- Chopwell Primary School will be closed to all pupils due to strike action.
- Lobley Hill Primary School will be partially open.
- Front Street Primary School will be partially open.
- Ravensworth Terrace Primary School will only be partially open to Year 1 Manta Rays due to strike action.
- Brandling Primary School will be closed to year 1 and year 5 pupils due to strike action.
- Falla Park Community Primary School will be closed to all pupils due to strike action.
- Washingwell Primary School will be closed for all pupils in nursery through to year 4, and open for year 5 and 6 pupils.
Northumberland
Northumberland County Council only has one school closure alert for February 28 at the time of writing:
- Hexham Priory School
ChronicleLive has contacted the council to confirm whether any other schools will be affected by industrial action and will update this list if any further closures are announced.
County Durham
The following schools will be closed all day on February 28 and reopen on Wednesday, March 1:
- Bearpark Primary School
- Benfieldside Primary School
- Castleside Primary School
- Cockton Hill Infant School
- Fencehouses Woodlea Primary School
- Newker Primary School
- Oxclose Primary School
- Oxhill Nursery School
- Prince Bishop's Community Primary School
- Shincliffe CofE Primary School
- St John's CofE Aided Primary School
- Staindrop CofE Primary School
The following schools in County Durham will be partially closed on Tuesday:
- Aclet Close Nursery School - Partial closure
Consett Junior School - Class 5 and Class 7 fully closed. All other classes open)
Crook Primary and Nursery School - Partial closure
-
Hesleden Primary School - Children in Y3/4 (C3) should attend
- Leadgate Primary School - Nursery, Reception, Year 2, Year 5 and Year 6 will be open. Year 1, Year 3 and Year 4 fully closed
North Park Primary School - Closed to Year 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Peases West Primary School - Partially open for Nursery and Years 5 and 6 only
Sedgefield Community College - School remains open to Year 7 and Year 11 students
Shotley Bridge Primary School - School is only open to C7, C11 and C12. All other classes are closed
Sunnybrow Primary School - Classes 1 and 4 are open all day. Class 2 is closed all day. Class 3 is open until 12.30pm
The Grove Primary School - Year 2 will be open. All other classes will be closed
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