Teachers in England and Wales are set to strike in February and March after members of the National Education Union voted to back action in a pay dispute
School staff will walk out on seven different dates, which will vary by location, after talks with the government broke down.
Here, The Telegraph answers the big questions about what the strikes are likely to mean for schools in the coming weeks and months.
Will schools close?
Schools with large numbers of NEU members in England and Wales may close, while those with few members are likely to remain open.
The union has a total of about 300,000 members. Both elementary and secondary schools may be affected.
Some schools are more likely to remain open after a separate strike vote held by the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) failed to reach the threshold required for strike action.
When will there be strikes?
- Wednesday 1 February (England and Wales)
- Tuesday 14 February (Wales)
- Tuesday 28 February (Northern)
- 1 March (Midlands and East)
- 2 March (London, South East and South West)
- 15 March (England and Wales)
- 16 March (England and Wales)
Will exams and exam preparation be disrupted?
Ministers will ask schools to prioritize keeping classes open to GCSE and A-Level students.
NEU leaders told The Telegraph that while a disruption to exams in the summer could not be ruled out, it was unlikely that teachers would strike on exam days.
Will vulnerable children be able to go to school during strikes?
The Government will also require schools to prioritize children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Ministerial advice is not binding. The final decision will be made by the schools.
What about the children of key workers?
It is not yet known whether the government guidelines will provide additional provisions for the children of key workers.
Some schools are likely to resurrect pandemic-era emergency measures, which could include prioritizing places for children of key workers and those identified as vulnerable.
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