A snapshot survey conducted by the Association of School and
College Leaders suggests the majority of schools have been
affected by today’s strike by teachers in the National Education
Union.
Of 948 headteachers and principals in England and Wales, mostly
in secondary schools, 97% (920) reported that teachers were on
strike. In 35% (330) more than half of teachers took part in the
industrial action.
Of the 920 schools and sixth-form colleges where teachers were on
strike:
- 11% (97) were fully open with all students onsite
- 80% (738) were partially open with some students onsite
- 9% (85) were completely shut with no students on site.
Those that were partially open or completely shut took a range of
measures to support students, depending on how the circumstances
of the strike affected their setting.
Of these 823 respondents:
- 86% (709) provided work for students to do at home
- 81% (668) had onsite provision for vulnerable students
- 35% (284) made phone calls to vulnerable students who were
not onsite
- 38% (315) had onsite provision for children of critical
workers
- 60% (496) had onsite provision for exam year groups
- 17% (136) had onsite provision for students eligible for free
school meals, with others providing measures such as packed
lunches and vouchers.
We also asked how onsite provision was being put on in settings
which were partially or fully open. Of the 833 respondents
answering this question:
- 41% (344) combined classes
- 48% (399) used support staff
- 29% (238) used supply staff
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “The overwhelming feeling among school and
college leaders and teachers today will be one of sadness that we
have reached a point at which strike action has been taken as a
last resort against a government that will not listen.
“This has clearly been a difficult day for everyone concerned,
but the stark truth is that the erosion of teacher pay and
conditions over the past decade, and resulting teacher shortages,
mean every day in education is a difficult one.
“We implore the government to avert further industrial action by
improving pay and conditions and addressing the teacher
recruitment and retention crisis.”
The survey was conducted between 10am and 1pm today by emailing a
survey link to 3,334 headteachers and principals, with 948
responses received – a response rate of 28%. The majority of
responses were from mainstream secondary schools (85%), with the
remainder from a mix of primary, alternative provision, special
schools and sixth-form colleges. Of the respondents, 4% (39) were
from schools in Wales.
