Dozens of Norfolk schools are set to at least partially close this week, as thousands of teachers go on strike.

This Wednesday is the first of four days of planned industrial action from the 6,500 local members of the National Education Union in a dispute over pay.

The union voted to strike weeks ago - but members are not obliged to tell their employers if they will be participating until the day of the strikes.

This has left headteachers with difficult decisions over whether to close or not - in turn leaving parents with the prospect of late scrambles to arrange childcare.

However, with just a day remaining, schools have gradually been confirming their plans to parents - with a large proportion confirming at least partial closures, with attendance restricted to certain year groups, such as those taking GCSEs this year.

Among the schools to confirm they will be fully closed are Cawston Primary, Lionwood Infant and Junior Schools in Thorpe Hamlet, Hillside Avenue Primary Academy in Thorpe St Andrew and St Clement's High School in West Norfolk.

There are about 500 schools in the county. A straw poll of 60 of them found that 26 will remain open as normal, 29 will face partial closure and five will be closed to all pupils.

Norwich Evening News: Oliver Burwood, chief executive of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust.

Oliver Burwood, chief executive of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, said: "Each school within our trust has written to parents with specific details regarding the proposed strike action, however, there are factors that will determine what a headteacher can and can't provide on those potential strike days.

"Like the pandemic, pupil safety is our number one priority.

"Headteachers have asked to open the maximum provision they safely can on each strike day.

"Obviously, the number of staff headteachers have who are NEU members and who are choosing to strike, will have the biggest impact on what provision they can safely open."

The industrial dispute centres on pay and working conditions.

Teachers are set to receive a 5pc pay increase from September 2023, taking the average starting salary to £30,000.

However, this pay rise is considerably below the current rate of inflation and is not government-funded, meaning academy trusts have been left to find the money in their existing budgets.

  • Wednesday, February 1
  • Wednesday, March 1
  • Wednesday, March 15
  • Thursday, March 16

 

Straw poll results

The following schools took part in this newspaper's straw poll:

Acle Academy: open to year 11s and vulnerable children only

Alderman Peel High - open to year 11s and vulnerable children

Arden Grove Infant - open as normal

Bluebell Primary -  open to vulnerable pupils and Year 6

Burnham Market - open as normal

Cawston Primary - closed to all pupils

Charles Dawin Primary - open as normal

Clenchwarton Primary - open as normal

Cobholm Academy - open as normal

Cromer Academy - open as normal

Diamond Academy - open as normal

Dussindale Primary -  open to  reception, year 1, year 2 and year 3

East Point Academy - open to year 7 and 11 only

East Ruston Infant - open to all pupils

Edith Cavell Primary - open to vulnerable pupils, year 6 and SRB pupils

Firside Junior - closed to all but vulnerable children

Garrick Green Primary - open as normal

Gaywood Primary, open as normal

Great Yarmouth Charter Academy - open to years 7, 8, 11 and 12

Great Yarmouth Primary Academy - open as normal

Heacham Infant - open as normal

Heather Avenue Infant - open as normal

Hellesdon High School - open to year 11s and vulnerable children

Hellesdon Sixth Form - open to year 13s and vulnerable children

Hemblington Primary - open to year 5 and 6

Hethersett Academy -open to years 7, 10 and 11 

Hewett Academy - open to years 7, 9, 10 and 11

Hillside Avenue Primary - closed to all pupils

Jane Austin College - open to years 7, 11, 12 and 13

King Edward VI - open to years 7, 11, 12 and 13

Kinsale Junior - closed to all but vulnerable children

Lionwood Infant School - closed to all pupils

Lionwood Junior School - closed to all pupils

Lodge Lane - open to all but reception

Marshland High - open as normal

Martham Primary - open to vulnerable pupils and year 6

North Walsham Infant - open to all pupils

North Walsham Junior - open to all pupils

Norwich Primary Academy - open as normal

Sewell Park Academy - open to year 11 and vulnerable pupils

Sir Isaac Newton Academy - open as normal

Smithdon High - open to year 7

Snettisham Primary - open as normal

Springwood High - open to year 7, 11 and 13

Sprowston Community Academy, open to vulnerable students, year 11, 12 and 13

St Clement's High - closed to all pupils

St Clements Hill Primary - open to vulnerable pupils and year 2

Stalham Infant & Stalham Junior - open to vulnerable pupils and yyear 6

Stradbroke Primary Academy - open as normal

Thetford Academy - open to years 10, 11, 12 and 13

Thorpe St Andrew - open to vulnerable students and year 11, 12 and 13

Tuckswood Primary -  open to vulnerable pupils andy ear 6

Walpole Cross Keys Primary - open as normal

Wayland Academy - open as normal

Wells Primary - open as normal

West Lynn Primary, open as normal