Ryedale: schools to be affected by NEU teacher strikes

Hundreds of thousands of members of the National Education Union (NEU) are expected to walk out on March 15 and 16 in the long-running dispute over pay.

The Education Secretary has called on the NEU to enter formal talks on teachers’ pay this week rather than staging strikes.

On the eve of teacher strikes across England, Gillian Keegan has written to unions representing teachers and school leaders to invite them to formal talks on Wednesday and Thursday this week if they suspend walkouts.

Gillian Keegan, Education Secretary (Image: PA Media)

How the strikes will affect Ryedale

In Ryedale, many pupils will face disruption during the strikes, should they go ahead.

Malton School will be open to just years 7, 11, and 13 on both days of the strikes.

Norton College will also be partially closed, with the school only open to years 7, 11, 12, and 13 on both days.

In a letter sent to parents, headteacher Tim Johnson said that the school stayed open during the previous strikes, but “the number of colleagues who are members of the NEU has now increased”, which is set to cause disruption to the school.

Norton College (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “Our priority is to ensure the school can operate safely, and within our legal and statutory frameworks."

Lady Lumley’s School, in Pickering, will be open to just year 11 and 13 students.

In a letter sent to parents, headteacher Clair Foden said the school “must ensure the safeguarding of students and prioritise students facing examinations this academic year”.

Clair Foden, headteacher of Lady Lumley's School (Image: Newsquest)

Ryedale School will remain open to all students during the strikes.

A spokesperson for the school said “slight tweaks” will be made where necessary to the usual timetables to ensure that lessons can still go ahead.

For schools that are to close separate arrangements will be made for vulnerable students.

Education Secretary urges Union to 'sit down and talk about pay'

In an open letter to parents on Tuesday (March 14), the Education Secretary said: “The single best thing the NEU could do for both its members and for children and young people would be to sit down and talk about pay.”

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Ms Keegan first invited the NEU to formal talks on teachers’ pay three weeks ago on the condition that the union’s planned strikes were cancelled.

But the NEU has refused to suspend strike action in England until Ms Keegan makes a pay offer that could end the dispute.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “The NEU regrets the inconvenience caused to parents, children and young people by strike action.

“The responsibility for this lies squarely with the Education Secretary.

“The NEU has said time and again we will meet for talks. As in Wales and Scotland, strike action was paused when a serious offer was made, and members were consulted on it. No preconditions were thought necessary by Scotland or Wales and as a result progress has been made.

“Gillian Keegan’s digging in of heels, and refusal to engage through Acas, has meant that England yet again lags behind other countries.”