In a week which is set to see workers across the country walk out on strike in disputes regarding pay and working conditions, today (March 15) marks the beginning of two days of strike action from NEU teachers, but who is striking in our area?

For the next two days, NEU members across the country will be holding planned walk outs in schools across England, including sixth-form colleges. Teachers unions are calling for above-inflation increases and want schools to receive extra money to ensure pay rises don’t come from existing budgets.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) say that on average between 2010 and 2022, teacher salaries in England fell by 11% after taking rising prices into account. The government is proposing a 3% pay rise for most teachers in 2023/24 - but the NEU says this is not enough.

The school is closed to all students following strike action, except years 11, 12 and 13, as well as those who attend ARB provision, have an EHCP or are a child in care.

The school has announced that over the next two days, there will be limited pupil attendance.

Headteacher Mr D Wilkes said: "Budehaven Community School will be open for Year 11 and 13 only on Wednesday 15th March. Normal timetables will be followed. The library will be open throughout the day for Year 13 students,

"We will be open for all of Year 13 on Thursday 16th March, and also for specific Year 11 students, to ensure any mock examinations that were missed are caught-up. The parents and carers of those required to attend will be informed individually, as will the students. This is especially important, as these are the last examinations to take place in school before the final summer GCSE examinations. If, for any unforeseen reason, a student was unable to attend a GCSE examination, their mock examination results will be taken into account. Any missed mocks will prevent this from happening, which could affect a young person’s overall results."

Due to strike action and in order to maintain appropriate student to staff ratios, the school has organised for only certain year groups to attend over the next two days. 

For today (March 15) students who are expected to attend are: 

And those asked not to attend are:

For tomorrow (March 16) students expected to attend are:

And those asked not to attend are:

The school intends to open over the next two days for Year 11, 12 and 13 students and for the following Year 7 tutor groups: March 15, Year 7 students in the following tutor groups: 7L, 7I, 7S, 7K. March 16, Year 7 students in the following tutor groups: 7E, 7A, 7R.

Looe Community Academy have decided to prioritise "those students completing their final exams this summer in Year 11."

Headteacher Scott Yalden said: "The Headteacher and Governors cannot close the school in sympathy with striking unions, however, we have to give serious consideration to the safety of our students, and we do not feel therefore we can offer the adequate level of supervision in the absence of striking teachers to provide an education to all students as normal. The academy will therefore be open to all Year 11 students and the children of critical workers and vulnerable students. School transport and the canteen service will be available as normal."

Bodmin College is also subject to some disruption, meaning only certain groups of students will be attending the school over the strike days.

In a recent news letter, the school released the table below detailing student access.

A spokesperson for the school said: "these decisions have not been taken lightly. We remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our students, and feel that we would be unable to provide this to all year groups with the staff we have available on these days. We have therefore focused our provision on students taking examinations/controlled assessments this summer."

Updates to come.