London schools have been hardest hit by school strikes, with fewer than one in five fully open
Ondon was the worst hit region in the country by the latest teachers’ strikes, with less than one in five schools fully open to pupils.
Data from the Education Ministry showed that only 18% were fully open on both days in the capital, while 18% and 17% of schools were fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Tens of thousands of members of the National Education Union (NEU) took part in a long-running pay dispute in two consecutive days of strikes across England.
Most schools in England closed their doors to some students due to teachers’ industrial action, data showed.
The Department of Education said 47% of the 16,100 known state-funded schools were fully open on Wednesday, while 47% were open but restricting attendance, and 6% were closed.
As of Thursday, an estimated 46% of the 16,200 schools were fully open, with 47% open but attendance restricted, and 6% closed.
Meanwhile, just 14% of secondary schools were fully open on Thursday, compared with 53% of elementary schools and 31% of special schools.
This meant parents had to make arrangements to look after their children as most schools were either fully or partially closed to students.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan first invited the NEU to formal talks on teachers’ salaries three weeks ago, on condition that the union’s planned strikes be called off.
But the NEU refused to suspend strike action in England until Ms Keegan makes a salary offer that could end the dispute.
On Thursday, striking members of the Rail, Shipping and Transport Union (RMT) also disrupted 14 rail companies that were pulling out in a long-running dispute over wages, jobs and working conditions.
Trains started later than normal at around 7:30am and finished earlier than usual at around 6:30pm.
Operators such as CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern and Southeastern were affected.
Across Britain, between 40% and 50% of normal weekday services were supposed to run, but some areas had no trains all day.
The disruption is expected to last until Friday as many trains will not be in usual depots overnight.
Tens of thousands of staff at 150 universities across the UK – including academics, librarians, technicians, security and catering workers – began a five-day strike on Thursday.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/london-schools-teacher-strikes-number-closed-b1067952.html London schools have been hardest hit by school strikes, with fewer than one in five fully open
