Schools in England and Wales could close to all but the most vulnerable pupils over the coming months if teachers vote to strike in early 2023. It could mean a return to the measures last seen during the pandemic, with mainstream education being shut down for the majority of children.
Members of the NASUWT, the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Education Union are currently voting on strike action with all the ballots closing by January 13. Meanwhile, the Association of School and College Leaders has already held a 'consultative ballot' last month and is deciding on its next steps.
The Telegraph reports. contingency plans are in place to avoid kids going without food or being subjected to neglect, abuse and criminal exploitation if classrooms close. But a source in a school leadership union told the newspaper they would be "very surprised" if schools shut down completely.
Last month, teachers announced they would stand together to take action in a dispute over pay. NASUWT members in Scottish primary schools will strike on January 10, while teachers working in secondary schools will walk out on January 11. The strike will coincide with action by Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) members, who will walk out on January 10 and 11, joined by Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) members on the second day.
The NASUWT is calling for a fully funded 12 per cent pay award for 2022/23 and said that the current pay offer tabled by ministers and Cosla amounts to a further real-terms pay cut.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said: "We have been left with no choice. At a time when teachers are facing the biggest squeeze on their finances in a generation, offering what amounts to a further real-terms pay cut is simply not good enough.
"Our members are not prepared to stand by while their pay dwindles and their living costs rise. The Government and employers will need to bring forward a substantially improved pay offer if they want to see an end to this dispute."
They said: “Knowing what they’re like in normal times and what they’ve done through the pandemic, I think [school leaders] would find it a very difficult scenario that they kept their schools open, particularly for the most vulnerable, despite a global pandemic, and yet because of strike action that they wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t see that happening frankly.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “There are no great schools without great teachers which is why we are making the highest pay awards in a generation – five per cent for experienced teachers and more for those early in their careers, including an 8.9 per cent increase to starting salary. We are also investing an additional £2billion in schools next year and £2 billion the year after, taking school funding to its highest-ever level. After two years of disrupted education for young people, strike action is simply not a responsible solution.”
