THESE are the schools we know are closing - or partially closing - so far in Worcestershire due to strike action. 

The list below contains the schools we know will be closing in Worcestershire as a result of strike action by the NEU over pay and conditions for teachers and support staff.

However, it does not necessarily provide a full and comprehensive list of all closures on Wednesday, March 1. The list of schools is updated by Worcestershire County Council when more information is received.

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So far the schools known to be closing in full or in part are: 

  • Walkwood CE Middle School, Redditch (Walkwood will be open only to Year 6 pupils  along with pupils who attend the Mainstream Autism Base. The school is closed to all other pupils).
  • Chawson Community First School in Droitwich 
  • Westlands First School (closed to reception pupils but open as usual for nursery, years 1, 2, 3 and 4).
  • Catshill First School & Nursery in Bromsgrove (Due to the NEU strike the school will be closed to all pupils. They will be contacting parents/carers of Children Looked After (CLA), Child Protection Plans (CP), Child in Need Plans (CIN) & EHCPs).
  • Catshill Middle School in Bromsgrove (due to the NEU strike the school will be closed to all pupils. They will be contacting parents/carers of Children Looked After (CLA), Child Protection Plans (CP), Child in Need Plans (CIN) & EHCPs).
  • Pinvin CE First School, Pershore (Pinvin Federation will be closed to year 2, year 4. All other classes will be open as usual).
  • St Nicholas' CE Middle School in Pershore (St Nicholas CE School will be closed to Year 5 and one class in Year 6. All other classes will be open as normal).

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A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "The Department for Education (DfE) has issued guidance to all schools on handling strike action. It is the expectation of the DfE that school leaders will take all reasonable steps to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible.

"However, where there is no option but to restrict attendance, priority should be given to vulnerable children and young people, children of critical workers, and pupils due to sit public exams and other formal assessments.
 
"The council is working closely to support our schools who are currently reviewing their circumstances and planning accordingly."
 
DfE guidance states that the decision to open, restrict attendance, or close a maintained school is for the headteacher and governing board. The decision for academies rests with the academy trust, but is usually delegated to the principal. 

A spokesperson for the NEU said: "Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have voted in overwhelming numbers to take strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise. Our ballot of teacher, support staff and leader members in 23,400 schools throughout England and Wales is the largest vote for strike action achieved by any union ever in the UK.

"It sends a resounding message to the Government: we won’t stand by and watch the destruction of education without taking a stand. But it’s a last resort.

"No union, particularly one as big as the NEU, can take action unless its members vote for it.

"We are the biggest union to achieve this mandate, and it’s built on members’ anger that they cannot do the job they want to do for their pupils. We will need the support of all our members, union reps and branch officers alongside our strong links with our communities to move our political decision makers and to ensure Westminster delivers the fully funded inflation plus pay increase we desperately need."

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