Three-quarters of London schools were estimated to be closed entirely or partially on Thursday as teachers again went on strike.
Members of the National Education Union in the capital, South-East and South-West are protesting over pay. Parents have been warned that the worst is yet to come, with further walkouts planned for March 15 and 16 as well as more teachers joining unions.
More than 750,000 children were expected to be disrupted by today’s strikes, which follow the first walkout on February 1. But since then 9,000 more teachers have signed up to the NEU, the latest figures show. “Education is in crisis in this country,” the NEU said. “We don’t want to strike but as teachers in London, the South-East and South-West go on strike today it’s clear we have to take a stand.”
New data from Teacher Tapp, which surveys thousands of teachers, found that only a quarter of primary school teachers in London expected their school to remain open to all pupils today. Responses were similar in secondary schools.
It means London is the worst affected area in the country. In the East of England half of schools were expected to stay open on strike days and in the North-West the figure was one third. The data found that Year 11 students are the most likely to be in school during today’s strikes, with 64 per cent of teachers saying they expect their classes to still run.
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: “The number of new members joining the NEU is a strong indicator of the increased number of teachers taking part in strikes.”
Teachers do not legally have to inform their headteachers that they are going on strike. While many did, some London headteachers had to close without knowing whether staff would be taking action. At some schools, different classes in the same year group were sent home, causing confusion for parents.
It comes as unions criticised “contemptible” comments by Sir Gavin Williamson, after leaked messages showed the then-education secretary accusing teachers of looking for an “excuse” not to work during the pandemic. The comments emerged in the latest set of leaked messages from Matt Hancock, made when he was health secretary.
Mr Hancock messaged Sir Gavin on October 1, 2020, to congratulate him on his decision to delay A-level exams because of Covid. “Cracking announcement today,” he wrote. “What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are.” Sir Gavin responded: “I know they really, really do just hate work.”
The revelation threatened to derail talks between unions and the Department for Education. Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of NEU, said the messages show Sir Gavin’s “contemptuous” approach to unions and teachers. She urged the Government to “start negotiating with the profession to ensure we have a resolution”.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “We have made a serious offer to the leaders of the NEU: 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.”
