TEACHERS at schools across the north of England staged strikes today in the long-running dispute over pay – and this is how schools in Ryedale were affected.

Some schools were forced to restrict access to some students during the latest walkouts by the National Education Union (NEU), while others remained open as per usual.

Years of underfunded pay increases have “pushed the profession to its limits”, NEU leaders warned as they called for “proper negotiations” with ministers.

Teacher members of the NEU are set to walk out in the Midlands and eastern regions in England tomorrow (Wednesday), and further strikes will take place across Wales and the south of England on Thursday.

Schools in Ryedale

In Ryedale, Norton College and Ryedale School remained open as usual.

A spokesperson for Ryedale school said: “We had a small minority (of staff) striking, but that did not effect the running of the school.”

Malton School remained open, but only to Years 7, 11, and 13.

Lady Lumley’s in Pickering also remained open, but to restricted year groups.

The school was open to just students in Years 11 and 13.

Speaking before the strike on February 1, when the school was also only open to Years 11 and 13, Brian Crosby, CEO of Coast and Vale Learning Trust, of which Lady Lumley’s is part of, told the Gazette & Herald: “Coast and Vale Learning Trust wants as many children and young people as possible in school."

Mr Crosby added that the trust understood "parental concerns" regarding the strikes, adding: “However, we also appreciate that many teachers feel genuinely aggrieved by the current offer from the Government. They have taken a legal ballot to express their right to strike.”

He continued: “Where a school has to send students home, every effort will be made to provide education for our young people taking examinations and the most vulnerable students.

“We will also provide free school meals for those in receipt of pupil premium.”

Also speaking ahead of the previous strike on February 1, Clair Foden, headteacher of Lady Lumley’s, told the Gazette & Herald: “This decision has been made to enable us to keep all children safe and to prioritise those pupils and students sitting public examinations this academic year.

“I understand the concerns of students, parents and all my colleagues in managing this situation.”

Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan invited the teaching unions to “formal talks on pay, conditions and reform” on the condition that NEU strikes were suspended.

Ms Keegan said the union’s decision not to suspend the strikes was “hugely disappointing” as she added that children deserve to be in school and further walkouts were “simply unforgivable”.

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But the NEU has called on Ms Keegan to drop her “unnecessary pre-conditions and get around the negotiating table” to avert further national walkouts from taking place in England and Wales on March 15 and March 16.