How Oxfordshire schools be affected by teachers strike

The industrial action is taking place tomorrow (April 27) and next Tuesday (May 2) following strikes in February and March.

The action was announced after teachers rejected the government's pay offer on April 3, describing it as ‘insulting’.

Over 4,000 members will be taking action in Oxfordshire at over 300 schools.

The National Education Union said that as the strike days are close to public examinations such as SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels it has sought agreements with headteachers.

This would permit exam year students (Year 11 and 13) to attend school on strike days for revision activities or exam practice.

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Oxfordshire County Council has said it is unlikely school closures would be posted on its website and parents should liaise with their child's school.

There will be a strike rally at Oxford Town Hall from noon which will be attended by Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU, as Oxfordshire is one of the largest education authorities in the UK.

The NEU has around 2,800 teacher members in Oxfordshire.

Dr Bousted will also visit Cheney School in Oxford and picket lines will be mounted at several other Oxfordshire schools.

On May 2, teachers will gather at South Park for Oxford Picnic in the Park from 11am.

Teacher strikes outside the Cheney School on March 2 (Image: NEU/Twitter)

Maria Fawcett, NEU regional secretary said: “Gillian Keegan is failing to address the multiple problems damaging our children's education - around teacher recruitment and retention problems, and inadequate school funding.

"She has been told by the profession – and a significant majority of the profession – that her pay and funding offer is not good enough. 98 per cent of NEU members rejected it, on a two-thirds turnout.

“Her response has been to deny the way the wind is blowing. She is refusing to return to the negotiating table.

"It is this inaction, this silence which has left NEU teacher members in schools and sixth form colleges to reluctantly take two more days of national strike action in the coming days."

She added: “The NEU regrets any disruption to education and has put in place measures to ensure GCSE and A-level students have a full programme on those days, but what parents know is the disruption to education on a daily basis.

"This is the result of government policy on pay, on workload, on funding, and its serial neglect of a recruitment and retention crisis.

"Pupils are now regularly taught by staff who do not specialise in the subject they are asked to teach, or by a series of different teachers for the same subject across a year.

"Schools are cutting subjects and facilities to make ends meet, reducing opportunities for young people. Support staff posts are disappearing, leading to less one-to-one time.

“Despite our efforts, this government has shown no understanding of just how serious the situation is in our schools and colleges. The pay and funding offer has only served to unite the profession against the government.

"That is why NEU members are acting to make the government see sense and improve its offer to teachers.”

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After the February strikes, the government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off payment and a 4.3 per cent pay rise for most staff in September.

The starting salary for teachers in England is also due to rise to £30,000 a year by September.

The Department for Education described it as a "fair and reasonable offer" and said that schools would receive an extra £2.3billion over the next two years.

All four unions involved in the dispute rejected the offer, saying it was still not fully funded, meaning schools would have had to make cuts elsewhere to afford it.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the offer was no longer on the table, so the decision on pay would now be made by the independent pay review body.