Parents left confused over teachers' strike
Confusion reigns among hundreds of parents ahead of next week's teachers' strike – with some schools not yet clarifying whether they will fully close.
Thousands of teachers will walk out on Tuesday in a row over changes to pay scales, pensions and workload.
But while some schools are closing down for the day, others are only shutting to certain years.
And many parents only found out yesterday that they needed to arrange childcare for their children for next week, finding out by a group text that their child school is shutting.
Industrial action is scheduled for next Tuesday by the NUT and NASUWUT unions. Union chiefs have called for the Government to hold 'meaningful' talks about a long-running dispute about changes to pay scales, pensions and workload.
Among those closing totally are Wightwick Hall School, Wolverhampton, Bristnall Hall Academy, Oldbury and Hazel Slade Community Primary School, Cannock.
For a list of schools known to be affected by the strike, see your Weekend Express & Star.
A portion of schools will meanwhile only partially close. Bishop Lonsdale CE(VC) Primary School, Eccleshall, Stafford, is closed to those pupils in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6, while at Penkridge Middle School, only Year 7 pupils are being asked to come next Tuesday.
Teachers are also not obliged to tell local education authorities if they are taking action or not.
Staffordshire County Council is an exception as it has compiled a list of schools which will close for industrial action.
Other councils are yet to follow suit, though education chiefs say they will do all they can to minimise the disruption.
One mother, who was sent a text message by her child's school yesterday, said: "It is an added stress juggling family life, work and then trying to find childcare suddenly."
Black Country Chamber of Commerce president Paul Bennett said the strike was 'unlikely to achieve much' given Government's need to reduce the cost of the public sector in the economic downturn.
He added: "School closures will impact on families who are suffering particularly hard in the current economic climate."
Sandwell NUT representative Ian Murray said he agreed there was a political element to strikes, but on the part of Government. He said moves towards the de-regulation of teachers' pay, so there would no nationally set bandings, seemed to hint at a future privatisation of schools.
