Greenwich and Bexley strikes closures: Is my school open?

Bexley Council has said that they have no information on which schools will be fully or partially closed as a result of strike action by teachers belonging to the NEU.

Staff do not need to inform their head teacher until the day of the strike and Bexley Council went on to explain that schools do not need to advise them when they are closing.

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The Department for Education has issued guidance to all schools on what is expected from them, which includes if necessary offering priority to vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

Bexley Council added that any schools that do close will share the information directly with parents.

Greenwich Council has said that they will also not have information in advance of the strike day.

The joint general secretary of the National Education Union, whose members are striking on Wednesday, has said it is “very appropriate” that teachers are not telling headteachers about plans for the strike.

Kevin Courtney told Kay Burley on Sky News it is “completely wrong” to say teachers are being irresponsible by taking industrial action.

He added: “The Government is letting our children down.

“There is disruption every day in our schools because the Government isn’t investing in our schools or the people who work in them. The point about tomorrow is that it is a strike. We want our strike to be effective in order to concentrate the Government’s mind.

“It is not the same as a natural phenomenon like Covid where we would be doing everything we could to make sure schools were running as well as possible.”

He also said last-minute talks with Gillian Keegan failed because she bought “no proposals” to the table on pay and conditions.

In its full statement, Bexley Council said: “We have no information on which schools are likely to be fully or partially closed due to the planned strike action by teachers belonging to the NEU.

“Staff do not need to inform their headteacher until the day of the strike and schools do not need to advise us.

“The DfE has issued guidance to all schools on what is expected from them including, if necessary giving priority to vulnerable children and young people and children of critical workers.

“This guidance is available from the DfE.

“Schools will be sharing information about the industrial action and their arrangements directly with parents.”