NUT strike action affects a number of schools across Shropshire
A strike by members of the National Union of Teachers, has seen a number of schools closed or partially open across Shropshire today.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) voted for industrial action on July 5 in a longstanding row over pay and conditions.
The strike is expected to cause disruption across the county, with schools affected either through complete closure, partial closure or reduced timetables.
Both Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council say that schools are not obliged to tell them what effect the strike will have on their staffing levels or whether it means the school will remain open, partially open or have to close.
A decision to close a school is made by the board of school governors in conjunction with the head teacher of the school.
Kevin Courtney, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“The NUT is not taking action lightly. In light of the huge funding cuts to schools, worsening terms and conditions, and unmanageable and exhausting workloads, teachers cannot be expected to go on without significant change.
“The effects on children’s education are also real and damaging. As a result of school funding cuts, class sizes in primary and secondary schools are increasing, subject choices are being cut, and children are getting less individual attention as teachers and support staff are made redundant or not replaced when they leave. There is worse to come, with the Institute of Fiscal Studies predicting that the biggest real terms cuts to per pupil funding in a generation are on the way.
“There is already a teacher recruitment and retention crisis in our schools. Without significant change to the pay and working condition of teachers, this will simply deepen. We know that many parents share our concerns."
