Two days of strike action by NEU teachers will see partial closures at some Suffolk schools including St Benedict's Catholic School and Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds

Strike action by teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) is set to go ahead today in England due to the ongoing dispute over pay.

While the strike has been averted in Wales following a revised pay offer by the Welsh Government, in England the strike dates of today (March 15) and tomorrow (March 16) remain in place.

This follows two NEU strike days since February, on February 1 and March 1, that saw disruption at several Suffolk schools.

Schools impacted over this two-day strike include:

• Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds - closed to Years 7 to 10;
• Westley Middle School in Bury St Edmunds - open to Year 6 students;
• St Benedict's Catholic School in Bury St Edmunds - partially closed;
• County High School in Bury St Edmunds - open to targetted Year 11 students, Year 11 and 13 students who would like to utilise an independent study space and vulnerable students who will be offered supervised self-study;
• Abbots Green Academy in Bury St Edmunds - closed to one class (India class);
• Thurston Community College in Thurston - open to Year 11 and 13 students;
• Stowmarket High School in Stowmarket - open for Year 11 for a half day on both days.
• Stowupland High School/Stowupland Sixth Form in Stowupland - open to Years 11, 12, and 13 as well as Mulberry Centre pupils and vulnerable learners;
• Bacton Primary School in Bacton, near Stowmarket - open to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Years 1, 2 and 6 and vulnerable pupils;
• Mendlesham Primary School in Mendlesham near Stowmarket - open for EYFS, Years 2 and 6, Mulberry Centre pupils and vulnerable pupils;
• Thurston CE Primary Academy, near Bury St Edmunds - closed to Years 3, 5 and 6.

Yesterday, Graham White, Suffolk NEU spokesperson, said: "The NEU anticipates that this two-day strike will be even bigger than previously and we would urge the Government to sit down to meaningful talks with a significant proposal to address the pay, funding and teacher recruitment crisis.

"The Government needs to be serious that it wants to end this dispute and this requires a sensible offer. If the Government doesn't then pupils' education will be further damaged, not just in the short term but in the longer term also."

He said it was with 'great regret' that the NEU had to embark on further strike action, but this was because the Government 'is still not listening'.

He added: "The NEU has sought to avoid strike action and offered to postpone action if the Government would propose an acceptable resolution as has been the case in both Scotland [involving another union] and Wales.

"The NEU has written to all four education secretaries in the last eight months. They have sent 18 letters about pay and funding including the massive teacher shortage. The NEU has attended six meetings with the Government, but nothing positive has been offered by the Government.

"The Government seems intent on making education provision worse. Despite all the concerns, the Government is recommending pay to increase by three per cent for teachers in 2023/24."

The NEU says the Government is insisting that strike action must be cancelled before they will continue negotiations.

The Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote an open letter to parents yesterday ahead of the two-day strike action by the NEU.

She said: "This industrial action will mean more disruption to children’s education and to your lives too – whether that’s work, arranging childcare, or changing other plans.

"I am extremely disappointed that many young people will once again miss invaluable time learning with their teachers and friends, particularly after their education was significantly disrupted during the pandemic.

"It is made worse by the fact that this strike action is completely unnecessary. As I said to the NEU three weeks ago, I want to get around the table and engage in serious talks on teachers’ pay and other issues to resolve disputes.

"My only condition was that strike action is paused so those discussions can take place in good faith and without disruption.

"This was the same offer, and the same condition, made to unions representing nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists. Those unions accepted that offer, paused their strikes and are now negotiating on behalf of their members in private."

Commenting on a meeting yesterday afternoon between Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, and the Education Secretary over the pay dispute and industrial action, Mr Barton said: "Today’s discussion was helpful and the Secretary of State has listened to our view that progress will only be made by finding a way to reconvene talks with all the education unions collectively.

"It is vital that any further talks are accompanied by a meaningful offer on pay and conditions which ends industrial action and addresses the underlying teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

"To be clear. Talks had been taking place until the Secretary of State refused to engage further with all education unions. All of us had wanted the talks to continue.

"Her reason for ending talks was her view that the NEU should first pause strike action – despite there being no hint of an actual offer. This precondition created an impasse, and she subsequently rejected our joint call to bring in ACAS [Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service] to conciliate.

"Parents should know that this week’s strikes could have been averted if proper negotiations had taken place to secure a settlement.

“This is extremely regrettable, but we will nevertheless continue to engage constructively and hope for a resolution in the near future.”