SCHOOLS across Colchester are set to put a "partial" closure in place to cope with the disruption caused by striking teachers.

The National Education Union (NEU) has voted to take industrial action on seven days across February and March.

Colchester schools have issued guidance to parents on what the strike action will mean for them tomorrow.

Montgomery Infant School

A letter from school leaders said: "Please make alternative child care arrangements for Wednesday, February 1.

"The aim of strike action is to cause disruption and many of our NEU staff members may be following the union’s call for strike action on Wednesday.

"The school will remain open but at a much-reduced capacity and priority will be given to vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

READ MORE: Braintree teacher on reasons she is going on strike

"Available staff will be meeting at 8:30am on Wednesday, so we can ascertain how many classes we can open.

"A text message will then be sent out to parents, we hope by 8:45am.

"School will then be open at 9:00am, with gates opening at 8:55am.

"Your child's attendance figures will not be affected if your child is unable to attend school due to partial school closure."

St Helena School

Charlie McCarthy, acting head of St Helena School, said: "Any plans that we put together in advance will be subject to possible last minute
change.

"As the head of school I will only know our staffing resource for the day, on the morning of February 1.

"This means that we may not be able to welcome all the students onto site that we would like.

"It may even mean that we will not be able to open at all on the day. For this reason, we will be aiming to open the school site at 9:45 am, to give ourselves the opportunity to gather as much information as we can before making final preparations.

"At this point, I believe that the school can open next Wednesday for Year 11 students only.

"I will be writing separately to the parents and carers of our students with an EHCP, in care or with social care support to share our plans for their children.

"I believe that on the day I will have the staffing in place for revision and coursework sessions and supervision for year 11 only. If this situation changes on the day, then I will inform parents as soon as I can.

"The Year 11 students will spend the day with staff preparing for their final GCSE and vocational examinations and courses.

"Students will be reminded of revision strategies and complete vocational
coursework, revision and English and Maths practice papers. Our normal attendance policy will apply for year 11 students on the day." 

St Benedict's Catholic College

The principal said: "Year 11 students should attend college as normal.

"Please make sure that they have their laptops with them, fully charged. Catering services will be as normal, but there will be no after college clubs or revision classes on this day.

"Year 7 – 10 students should remain at home. They will receive a reduced provision of a combination of online learning from their teachers who are not striking through Microsoft Teams and other learning activities set through Class Charts."

Paxman Academy

School leaders said: "We will be aiming to open the school site at 9:45am, to give ourselves the opportunity to gather as much information as we can before making final preparations.

"At this point, I believe that the school can open on Wednesday 1st February for Year 10 students only. 

"I will be writing separately to the parents and carers of our students with an EHCP, in care or with social care support to share our plans for their children.

"I believe that I will have the staffing in place for lessons and supervision for this one year group only.

"If this situation changes on the day, then I will inform parents as soon as I can.

"The Year 10 students will spend the day with staff preparing for their pre-public examinations that are scheduled for the following week in Maths and English.

"This will prepare for the content of the exams, the requirements of the papers and to go through some revision techniques and practices.

"Those not on site for the day can access online learning through their Google Classrooms."

This is when and where NEU affiliated teachers are on strike in the next two months:

  • Wednesday, February 1 - England and Wales
  • Tuesday, February 14 - Wales
  • Tuesday, February 28 - The following English regions: Northern, North West, Yorkshire & Humber
  • Wednesday, March 1 - The following English regions: East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern
  • Wednesday, March 15 - England and Wales
  • Thursday, March 16 - England and Wales

The Department for Education has issued its guidance for parents who may be affected by the strikes.

They said: “Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their school-registered child of compulsory school age attends school regularly.

“Therefore, all school-registered children of compulsory school age in classes open on days when strike action is being taken are still required to attend school, regardless of parental choice or the closure of other classes in the school.”

The guidance also says that there is “no express right for a member of the public who is affected by a lawful strike to receive financial compensation.”

The Department for Education said that while schools will “take all reasonable steps to keep the school open for as many pupils as possible” to remain open, some may be more seriously affected on strike days than others.

Some schools may have to restrict attendance in some year groups, but the advice is that schools prioritise vulnerable children, children of critical works and children who are preparing for exams.