Second teachers’ strike to lead to more disruption

Widespread disruption is expected at Scottish secondary schools next week as more teachers go on strike over pay.

Members of the SSTA and NASUWT unions will exit on either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the area they are in.

All secondary schools in East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire and Scottish Borders will be closed as a result.

The impact varies in other counties, with some closing all secondary schools for younger students.

Others decide on closures from school to school. Some elementary schools are also affected.

Local authorities and schools have started contacting parents to confirm any school closures.

The strike is part of an ongoing dispute over teachers’ salaries.

Industrial action by EIS members led to the closure of almost all schools in Scotland last week.

The Scottish Government’s latest salary offer was formally rejected on Wednesday.

The teachers’ unions have been offered a pay rise of between 5% and 6.85%, but they want 10%. Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says 10% requirement is “priceless”.

The teachers’ body of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), the negotiating forum for teachers’ salaries in Scotland, said the Scottish Government’s offer was “completely unacceptable to Scotland’s teachers”.

The SSTA and NASUWT have far fewer members than the EIS, which represents about 80% of teachers, allowing schools to remain somewhat open.

However, around a third of Scottish councils have now said they expect significant disruption.

A pattern is emerging as schools and councils work out the likely impact of next week’s strike.

The exact impact will vary from school to school and council to council, depending on how many teachers are in the SSTA and NASUWT unions.

But schools are prioritizing older students studying for qualifications. Where possible, schools remain open to them.

Younger secondary school students are threatened with an unplanned day off in many areas.

This could well mean that parents have to work from home or take time off work.

Nationally, the impact of the strike will not be as great as last week’s EIS action, representing 4 out of 5 teachers.

But if the action continues, it will still be a massive day of disruption for the secondary schools.

Aberdeen City Council

Thu 8 Dec – Secondary schools are closed to S1-S4 students.

Aberdeenshire Council

Thu 8 December – All schools remain open where possible but the industrial action will affect each school in different ways. This means the closure or partial closure of some schools and disrupted schedules in others. Parents will be notified by their schools.

Angus advice

Thu 8 December – Only secondary schools are affected. Agreements are confirmed by the schools.

Council of Argyll and Bute

Wed 7 Dec – One secondary school closed to all students. Agreements for others must be confirmed.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles)

Wed 7 Dec – Secondary schools are open to all pupils but there may be disruptions to classes.

Council of Dumfries and Galloway

Wed 7 Dec – There will be some disruption to classes in secondary schools. Each school will write directly to parents/carers with the arrangements for their school.

Dundee City Council

Thu 8th December – All secondary schools will open to S5 and S6 students only. Individual secondary schools may attend some S4 ​​pupils if staffing allows. The schools establish contact with the families.

East Ayrshire Council

Wed 7 Dec – All secondary schools closed to students.

East Dunbartonshire Council

Wed 7 Dec – All secondary schools and three primary schools will be closed.

East Lothian Council

Thu 8 Dec – All secondary schools will be closed to S1-S3 students. One will be closed to all students. The other four are open to some older students, but details vary between schools.

East Renfrewshire Council

Wed 7 Dec – All secondary schools closed for S1, S2 and S3 students.

Edinburgh City Council

Thu 8 Dec – About 10% of teachers are expected to go on strike. Some secondary schools will be closed or partially closed. Parents will receive more information from their schools as soon as possible.

Falkirk

Thu, Dec 8 – The council plans to open all schools, but educational offerings and delivery will be curtailed according to the number of teachers on strike. advising principals.

Glasgow City Council

All details are yet to be confirmed. Glasgow hopes secondary schools will open to S4, S5 and S6 pupils but some could be closed to S1, S2 and S3 pupils.

Highland Council

Wed 7 Dec – Parents briefed on impact of industrial action. So far, no full or partial closures of secondary schools have been announced

Inverclyde Council

Wednesday 7 December – Four of the seven secondary schools will be open next Wednesday for S4, S5 and S6 pupils only. The other three are open to all students.

Midloth Council

Thu, December 8 – All secondary schools will be closed.

moray council

Thu 8 December – All Moray secondary schools will close to pupils in grades 1-3, with variable arrangements for young people in grades 4-6 depending on staff availability. The school principals will inform the families directly about their individual regulations in the coming days

North Lanarkshire Council

Wed 7th December – Some primary school classes may be affected and parents/carers will be notified. Secondary schools are more complex and parents are kept up to date on the arrangements.

Council of Perth and Kinross

Thu 8 Dec – All secondary schools except Pitlochry High School will close to S1-S4 pupils. S5 and S6 students should attend school normally.

Scottish Borders Council

Thu 8 Dec – All secondary schools closed to students.

South Ayrshire Council

Wed Dec 7 – Five out of eight secondary schools will close to pupils. Two are open to students in S4, S5 and S6.

Stirling Council

Thu 8th December – Some year groups may participate and schools will notify students, parents and carers. Bannockburn High School is open to all pupils from S1 to S6.

Council of West Lothian

Secondary schools are open to all students, but there may be breaks in classes.