The schools in the Cambridge region that are closing or partially closing
Many schools across Cambridgeshire will be closed and others face significant disruption tomorrow (Wednesday) as teachers go on strike over pay.
The government has said schools should try to open, but many have said they will close, at least partially.
A rally and march is taking place in Cambridge tomorrow with union members pledging to “bring the city to a standstill”.
Paul McLaughlin, Regional Secretary for the Eastern Region of the National Education Union, said: “Parents understand the consequences of continued underfunding for both their school and their child.
“This strike should not be necessary and we regret the adverse impact this has had on parents and students. However, government failures bring us to a point where members have no choice but to exercise their democratic right to be heard.”
The decision to open, restrict attendance or close a maintained school rests with the principal. In the case of academies, the decision rests with the responsible trust, but is usually made by the head teacher.
Workers do not have to tell their employers if they intend to go on strike. However, school directors are entitled to ask staff in advance if they intend to go on strike, so that they can plan how the strike will be managed.
Jonathan Lewis, Director of Education for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, warned: “The emerging picture shows significant disruption. Even schools that are fully open will see some curriculum disruptions.
“We will collect information on which schools are closed or partially closed and update our website regularly.”
Dozens of primary and secondary schools across Cambridgeshire have announced closures, with some opening only to vulnerable and critical working-class children and others opting to complete work virtually.
In Cambridge, Long Road Sixth Form College will hold classes online to avoid students coming in and being disrupted. It does say, however, that students are welcome to come in and use the college’s facilities for independent study.
Parkside Community College has said 11th and 7th graders should go to school in full school uniforms as usual. 13th graders should attend the Eden Center and 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th graders have assignments to do at home.
At Coleridge Community College, the school is open to Year 11 students but is closed to the other grades whose work is scheduled to be completed online.
Vulnerable students and children of first responders in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 can attend Cottenham Village College along with all Year 11 students. The school also provides packed lunches for those entitled to free school meals, which can be collected at 1pm by the student or a parent/guardian.
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology will be open, as will Cavendish School.
Ely College, Impington Village College and Sawston Village College will be partially open, and Witchford Village College will be open to select vulnerable and critical working-class children.
At North Cambridge Academy, the school closes at lunchtime for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 but remains open for Year 11 pupils who will spend a full day ‘as normally as possible’.
Cambourne Village College is open to Year 11 students only, although vulnerable students of all grades can also attend the school for virtual learning. In a letter to parents, Principal Claire Coates said: “Thank you to the parents who have written to express their solidarity with the teachers who are taking part in this strike. This is not a decision that any of them have taken lightly.”
Bottisham Village College will open to 11th grade only, while other graders will do the work online at home.
Meanwhile, hundreds of UCU members are expected to join the striking NEU teachers for a joint march and rally, starting at 11am at Parker’s Piece and ending at 12.30pm at the Guildhall for a rally.
Members of the PCS union and train drivers’ union ASLEF, who are also on strike on Wednesday, will join the march alongside the UCU and NEU.
The demonstration has the support of Cambridge TUC, who are urging support for a nationwide day of action in protest at government plans to impose new anti-strike laws on public sector workers.
The advice of the DfE is that there is no legal obligation for schools to teach the curriculum on strike days.
Meanwhile, members of the Royal College of Nursing will strike again outside Cambridge University hospitals on February 6-7.
