Highgate school closures confirmed for tomorrow

A strike called by two of the UK's biggest teaching unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), is set to cause up to 90% of London schools to be closed tomorrow, including the majority of schools in Highgate. Over 3,000 schools are to close as a result of the strike, which has been called over changes to public sector pensions.

Although not all teachers are members of the two striking unions, many schools face the problem of having too few staff available on Thursday to meet Health and Safety requirements.  Patrick Cozier, Headmaster of Highgate Wood School, says, "After seeking advice from the London Borough of Haringey and carrying out a health and safety risk assessment, [I] have decided that there is no other alternative but to close the school."

The majority of Parliament Hill School teachers are NUT members, and the school will be closed for students in years 7 to 10. Some students in Year 12 will have lessons tomorrow from staff not taking strike action. The school has offered a supervised study area to a limited number of students whose parents face "serious childcare difficulties". A Y11 prom will go ahead tomorrow as planned.

La Sainte Union school has confirmed it will also close tomorrow. Education Secretary Michael Gove has condemned the industrial action, saying it will "cause inconvenience" to families. The strike is unprecented in the ATL's 127-year history.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said in a press statement, "The Government has done nothing more today other than confirm it has no intention of listening to teachers. They are simply imposing draconian changes that will see teachers paying more, working longer and getting less."

A march and rally will take place tomorrow from 11am starting at Lincoln's Inn Fields, and local events will take place to mark the day of action UK-wide.

Will the strike action affect you or your children? Let us know below!

Image: Ben Sutherland