September 30, 2013 9.58 am This story is over 126 months old

Over 90 schools affected by teachers’ strike in Lincolnshire

School closures: Around 32 schools will be closed, while 61 will be partially open during the October 1 teachers’ strike in Lincolnshire.
A NASUWT teachers march in London. | Photo: NASUWT

More than 90 schools across Lincolnshire will be affected by the national teachers’ strike on October 1.

Some 32 schools will be closed, while 61 will be partially open on the day.

Teachers part of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) or National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) will walk out on Tuesday.

The strike action is due to an ongoing dispute with Education Secretary Michael Gove.

The fallout is over changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and workloads, with unions arguing Gove is “demoralising” the profession by failing to resolve disputes.

In Lincoln, Lincoln Castle Academy, Westgate Academy, Chad Varah Primary School and Christ’s Hospital Academy will be closed.

Lincoln Monks Abbey Primary School, Queens Park School, Fortuna Primary School, Sir Francis Hill Community Primary School and St Christophers School will be partially open.

Lincolnshire County Council has complied a comprehensive list of schools across the county which will close, or only partially open on October 1.

[button url=”http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures/” title=”Lincolnshire School Closures”]See the full October 1 Lincolnshire school closures list[/button]

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “With pay pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an Education Secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate teachers now however have no other choice.

“Michael Gove has demoralised an entire profession, it is time that he started to listen for the sake of teachers, pupils and education,” she added.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: “The attacks on teachers are relentless.

“The reward for their hard work, dedication and commitment has been a vicious assault on their pay, conditions and professionalism.

“Teachers will be angered by the recklessness of the Secretary of State’s continuing failure to take seriously their concerns and engage in genuine discussions to address them.”

Debbie Barnes, director of Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We have advised schools that if they will be without staff they have to consider whether they have adequate cover to ensure the safety of children.

“This will determine whether they should close for the day or not. Schools that are closing should be informing parents and carers as soon as possible so that they can make arrangements for their children.”

David O’Connor, executive director for Performance and Governance, added: “As a responsible authority, we have been making plans for this industrial action for many weeks and are working towards agreeing service exemptions with the trade unions to ensure vital life and limb services are maintained.

“Plans are also in place to minimise any disruption to other council services and we have asked managers to plan services around possible reduced staffing levels if some are taking leave to look after their children.”