Teachers’ strike - more than 50 schools will be disrupted across Wakefield district
A total of 39 schools have confirmed they will be closed, another 16 are planning to partially close and some are set to make the decision tomorrow (Tuesday).
The industrial action has been organised by The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT). Between them the Unions membership includes more than 85 per cent of teachers across the district.
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Hide AdWakefield and District NUT branch secretary Sally Kincaid said: “Teachers are striking not just to defend their pay, conditions and pensions, because they want all children and young people in our schools to be in a happy, creative, learning environment, The Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove is constantly undermining the education system: reducing the number of staff required to work in a nursery, pushing in new curriculum without any research or resources and against the advice of teachers and education academics, removing the requirement for teachers to be qualified to teach. Teachers would welcome support from parents. carers and pupils as well as anyone else who cares about the education of our youngsters.”
The dispute centres on changes to public sector workers’ pensions which will see teachers work longer, pay in more and get less and also on planned changes to the way teachers are paid.
And unions object to plans to scrap national pay agreements, remove pay rises based on length of service and introduce performance-related pay.
Union leaders also say teachers are angry at the way the profession is being treated by Education Secretary Michael Gove.
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Hide AdBut a Department for Education spokesman said: “All strikes will do is disrupt parents’ lives, hold back children’s education and damage the reputation of the profession.”
The following schools will be closed because of strike action:
Ackton Pastures Primary School
Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
All Saints Featherstone CofE (VA) Junior Infant and Nursery School
Ash Grove Junior and Infant School
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Hide AdBadsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School
Castleford Airedale Junior School
Castleford Oyster Park Primary School
Castleford Redhill Infant School
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery
Castle Grove Infant School
Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School
Crofton Academy
Crofton Junior School
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School
Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School
Featherstone Purston Infant School
Featherstone Streethouse Junior Infant and Nursery anda Resources for Pupils with Physical Difficulties
Highfield School
Holy Family and St Michaels Catholic Primary School, Pontefract
Horbury Academy
Horbury Primary School
Knottingley England Lane Junior and Infant School
Lawefield Primary School
Newlands Primary School
Oakfield Park School, Ackworth
Pinderfields Hospital PRU
Pinders Primary (JIN) School
Sandal Endowed Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School
Middlestown Junior and Infant School
Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School, Castleford
Snapethorpe Primary School
South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School
Stockingate Mill Junior School
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Hide AdSt Johns Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School
St Thomas a Becket School
St Wilfrids Catholic High School
The Castle Childrens Centre (and Nursery School)
The Priory Centre
Upton Primary School
The following schools have partial closures in place:
Castleford Townville Infants School
City Academy - closed for years 8, 9 and 10, open for year 7 and open from 11:05am for year 11
Crigglestone Dane Royd Junior and Infant School
Dimple Well Infant School and Nursery
Freeston Academy - closed for years 7, 8 9 and 10
Hemsworth Grove Lea Primary School
Kettlethorpe High School - closed except for year 11
Kingsland Primary School
Northfield Primary School: with Autism Resource
Ossett Academy - closed for years 7, 8, 9 and 10
Osset South Parade Primary
Stanley St Peters Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
St Marys Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
The Springfield Centre
Wakefield Hendal Primary School
Woodkirk Academy - closed to years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 but sixth form is open as usual