All the Cambridgeshire school closures as teachers go back on strike in pay dispute

Schools across Cambridgeshire are facing two days of disruption as teachers go on strike again as part of their ongoing industrial action.

Teachers are taking part in two consecutive days of strike action by the National Education Union from today (Wednesday) in a dispute over teachers’ pay and the underfunding of education.

Sixth-form college NEU teachers are also taking part.

The Department for Education asked for “formal talks on pay, conditions and reform”, but only if the NEU called off the strikes.

The NEU said it would only suspend action if good progress was made first.

The DfE has said it expects headteachers to take all reasonable steps to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible.

The decision to open, restrict attendance, or close a maintained school is for the headteacher. The decision for academies rests with the relevant academy trust but is usually taken by the principal.

Cambridgeshire’s director of education, Jonathan Lewis said: “We are expecting disruption again to schools on March 15 and 16, and expect some impact on all schools as a result of the action, even if they are fully open.

“Headteachers are writing to parents to enable them to make decisions. In the case of full closure, schools are being encouraged to support vulnerable children and critical worker children, although capacity is likely to be limited.”

Advice from the DfE is that there is no legal requirement for schools to teach the curriculum on strike days and the offer around schools is likely to be limited.