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Teachers' Strikes Threaten Disruption for Millions as Private School Teachers Vote to Walk Out

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Disruption looms on the horizon for millions of state school pupils as teachers in England and Wales prepare to go on strike over below-inflation pay rises and a dispute over pensions. Winchester College, attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is set to become the first public school to join the wave of strikes. The National Education Union (NEU) has secured enough votes for teachers to walk out, with staff at Radley College also seeking trade union recognition.

Key Takeaways:

  • 125 private schools in England and seven independent schools in Wales have secured mandates for strike action, with ballots conducted in individual institutions.
  • Families who pay to send their children to private schools may not be protected from strikes set to disrupt thousands of schools in the state sector.
  • The NEU has announced seven national and regional strike dates for teachers in England and Wales, starting on February 1 and ending on March 16.
  • 48% of NEU members in England and 54% of members in Wales voted "yes" to strike action.
  • The union has acquired 10,000 new members as teachers sign up to maximize strike disruption.
  • The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, proposed bumper pay rises for science and maths teachers in a bid to avert strikes, but union leaders rejected the offer.
  • The Government only achieved 17% of its target for new postgraduate trainee physics teachers and 25% of its target for design and technology teachers in the current academic year.
  • Unions are calling for above-inflation pay rises for the present academic year, with discussions set to continue this week ahead of planned strike action.

Statistics:

  • 125 private schools in England and seven independent schools in Wales have secured mandates for strike action.
  • 300,000 members in England and Wales for the NEU.
  • 48% of NEU members in England and 54% of members in Wales voted "yes" to strike action.
  • 10,000 new members signed up to the NEU as teachers maximize strike disruption.
  • 17% of the government's target for new postgraduate trainee physics teachers was achieved in the current academic year.
  • 25% of the government's target for design and technology teachers was achieved in the current academic year.
  • 90% of the government's target for maths teachers was achieved in the current academic year.
  • £2 billion increases in schools funding were secured by the Education Secretary for the current and next academic years.

Sources:

  • The National Education Union (NEU)
  • Gillian Keegan, Education Secretary
  • Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the NEU
  • National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
  • Department for Education

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