More than half of schools across England were fully or partly closed as teachers walked out on strike today, according to data from the Department for Education.
The disruption has been reported as schools faced their sixth day of strike action this year by members of the NEU teaching union.
The DfE data suggests that 50 per cent of schools were restricting attendance today (2 May), with 5 per cent fully closed.
Overall, slightly more schools restricted attendance today than during last Thursday’s strike, when 47 per cent of schools were restricting attendance, with 5 per cent fully closed.
And 48 per cent of schools across England were reported to be fully open on 27 April, compared with 45 per cent today.
The NEU said this morning that it believed the majority of schools would either restrict access to pupils or fully close during the walkouts.
The DfE figures are based on returns from around 17,200 (81 per cent) of state schools in England on 27 April and 2 May.
The impact of teacher strike action
In primary schools, the DfE data suggests that 43 per cent of schools were restricting attendance today (2 May), with 5 per cent fully closed.
In the secondary sector, the proportion of schools affected by the strikes was far greater - with 82 per cent restricting attendance today, with 3 per cent of those fully closed
Many secondary schools in England were expected to prioritise Year 11 and Year 13 students during the strikes, with GCSE and A-level assessments just weeks away.
And the NEU issued guidance last month, saying it would “support arrangements that provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed”.
Today London saw the highest proportion of full school closures out of all the regions, with 11 per cent closed and 72 per cent open but restricting attendance. In contrast, the West Midlands saw the lowest percentage of school closures, at 2 per cent.
The impact of the strikes in terms of school closures has been broadly consistent over the course of the six national teacher strike days so far. On 1 February, 45 per cent of schools were restricting attendance, with 9 per cent of those fully closed.
And on 15 and 16 March, 47 per cent were restricting attendance with 6 per cent fully closed.
There have been concerns raised about pupil attendance this week and last, due to the teacher strikes falling across two consecutive bank holiday weeks.
For strike action taking place this term, the NEU issued guidance saying it would support arrangements that “provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed” on strike days so pupils with upcoming exams could attend classes.
Picket lines were mounted outside schools today, and hundreds of striking teachers marched in Westminster before taking part in a rally outside Downing Street.
Outside the Department for Education offices in Westminster, teachers turned their backs to the building and raised their fists, chanting “Come on Gill, pay the bill”, referring to education secretary Gillian Keegan.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “It is with regret that the NEU has had to take another day of strike action over the issue of a fully funded pay increase for teachers.
“Gillian Keegan needs to come forward with a better pay and funding offer if she is to avert further strikes.
“As it stands, she has taken her ball home with her and refuses to engage. This is irresponsible in the extreme and is a complete failure by the education secretary and government to recognise the damage they are doing to education and the profession.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are extremely grateful to our head teachers for all their work to keep 95 per cent of schools open today - minimising the disruption to children and their parents.”
“Children’s education has always been our priority and they should be in classrooms where they belong.”
“We have made a fair and reasonable teacher pay offer to the unions, which recognises teachers’ hard work and commitment, as well as delivering the additional £2 billion in funding for schools which the sector asked for.”
