Teachers’ strikes: Berkshire schools set to close due to strikes

Those schools which have teachers and staff engaging in strike action across the country are being warned of disruption with some expected to close altogether.

The strike has been called by the National Education Union (NEU) and will take place on Wednesday, February 1.

In Reading, a demonstration is planned starting at around  12pm in Broad Street and will end at the Town Hall Square.

On the other side of the county, picket lines will be formed outside several Slough schools before a rally outside The Curve, in central Slough, from 11am.

The NEU has argued that school funding from the government is insufficient.

According to the School Cuts website which the NEU has cited, schools in Reading are losing around £2.5million and are being asked to fund teacher pay rises from existing budgets.

Local teacher Katie said: “I’m striking to protect the profession. It saddens me that we can’t keep our excellent, young teachers because they can’t afford to live in Reading.”

Her colleague Julia added: “I am striking on Wednesday because I am tired of being undervalued. I believe that a teacher’s worth should be recognised and for a long time it hasn’t.”

Below you can find a list of schools in Berkshire that have announced class closures as a result of the strikes:

Denefield School, Tilehurst

Approximately two-thirds of teachers at Denefield School in Long Lane, Tilehurst, are members of the NEU.

However, preparations have been made and the school has online lessons available for Year 7-11 pupils on Wednesday.

Also, the school will remain open for those who want to study online at school, subject to the school’s capacity to supervise them.

Separate work has been prepared for Sixth Form students but full details have not yet been issued online.

Little Heath School, Tilehurst

Almost the entirety of classes at Little Heath in Tilehurst will be closed on Wednesday, February 1, as teachers and staff go on strike.

Pupils in Years 7-10 and 12 have been told to study from home using the school’s homework programme Satchel One.

Year 11 will be expected in school all day for revision sessions which might include ‘Walking Talking’ mocks, which are likely to be in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science.

Sixth Formers in Year 13 are expected to attend normal lessons where their teacher is in school, or supported self-study sessions where their teacher is taking strike action.

However, a post on the Little Heath website acknowledges the plan is subject to change, with more details expected on Tuesday, January 31.

In the post, headteacher David Ramsden said: “We recognise that the strike action may cause potential disruption to you and your child and therefore may be frustrating.

“We ask that all members of our school community treat each other with respect.”

Bulmershe School, Woodley

A majority of pupils at this secondary school in Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, will have to work from home on Wednesday due to the strike.

Pupils in Years 7-10 have been told to do homework on Google Classroom. Any pupil who does not have a Chromebook to work on should email reception@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk.

Year 11 and 13 pupils have been told to go to school as normal.

The majority of Year 12 students will have to work from home, but those studying Criminology have been told their Unit 1 controlled assessment will still go ahead in rooms C1 and C2 for 8.45am.

The assessment is three hours long and will be invigilated.

Once the assessment is over, students will then be able to sign out and go home.

Sandy Lane Primary School, Bracknell

The majority of classes will be closed at this primary school in Sandy Lane, Bracknell.

A Facebook post by the school states that classes from nursery and reception up to Year 6 will be closed because of the strikes.

The school is divided into year groups with animal names, with nursery, reception Caterpillars & Ladybirds, Year 1 Hedgehogs and Rabbits, Year 2 Kingfishers & Hummingbirds, Year 4  Otters, Year 5 Meerkats, Giraffes & Zebras Year 6 Turtles, Dolphins & Penguins and Foxes Class all having lessons cancelled.

If anything changes, parents will be notified at 7.45am on Wednesday, February 1, the day of the strike.

If no update is received, the above classes will be closed, with only three classes will be running as usual on the day.

Sandhurst School 

Sandhurst School has different changes depending on the Year Group.

For Years 7-8, if a class teacher is taking strike action and therefore not in school, and no cover is in place then students will be directed to the main hall or canteen for that lesson.

This gives students the choice to be able to watch suitable national curriculum

linked documentaries and film versions of plays or texts studied at Key Stage 3 or they can complete their own study with access to chromebooks where available or choose silent reading.

Year 7 students should go to tutor bases at 8.30am and Year 8 should go to the School Hall at 8.30am.

Students in Years 9-10 will remain at home and log in to Google Classroom to meet with their class teacher.

This will follow the normal school timetable. Students will be informed via Student Bulletin of the teachers who will be teaching online lessons.

Year 11 will attend normal lessons and when they have lessons without a classroom teacher due to the strike action, they will make their way to the Sixth Form Centre and use this time for private study and access to exam papers.

Year 11 should go to normal tutor bases at 8:30am.

Students Years 12 and 13 should come to lessons as normal and will be given further details regarding staff who will be in school via the Student Bulletin.

Ditton Park Academy, Slough

Ditton Park in Kings Reach, Slough, will be closed for the majority of pupils.

Years 7-10 have been asked to study from home via Microsoft Teams and other resources.  Meanwhile, students in Years 11-13 are expected to attend school as normal.

The school’s restaurant will be open from 8.40am, with the learning day beginning in 9am.

The vulnerable and critical worker students whose parents have indicated via a recent email poll can attend but their learning experience will potentially be very different.

Wexham School, Slough 

Wexham School in Norway Drive, Slough, will be closed for the majority of pupils. Those in Years 7-10 have been told to study at home using the ‘Show My Homework’ section on the school website.

The school will be open as normal for Year 12 and 13 students.

However, they have been told to expect lesson cancellations and should bring enough work to complete learning independently during these times.

The school will also be open for Year 11 students who will follow their normal timetable.

Agency staff will be used to cover some lessons which would otherwise be cancelled.

However, staff are not allowed to set work for these lessons so students should bring in revision or reading materials to work on during these times. At this stage Year 11 pupils may need to be dismissed at 2.20pm.

This list will be updated with schools and information about closures as more information comes in. If your school has reported changes on Wednesday due to the strike action, and they are not listed above, please contact james.aldridge@newsquest.co.uk