Strike Action Guidance.pdf

Key Points:

The Department for Education expects headteachers to take all reasonable steps to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible during strike days.
The decision to open, restrict attendance, or close a school rests with the headteacher (maintained schools) or the academy trust (academies).
Headteachers should consult governors, parents, and the Local Authority before deciding whether to close or restrict attendance.
Employers can ask staff if they intend to strike to plan for the strike, but employees are not required to disclose this information.

Advice on Keeping Schools Open:

Responsibility: Headteachers are responsible for deciding whether to open, restrict attendance, or close a maintained school, while academy trusts make this decision for academies.
Health and Safety: Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure staff and pupils are not exposed to health and safety risks, including during industrial action.
Staff Deployment: Headteachers can ask other teachers to cover classes, but cannot compel them to do so if they are employed under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document.

Prioritizing Places:

Vulnerable Children and Young People: Schools should prioritize places for vulnerable children and young people, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Children of Critical Workers: Schools should also prioritize places for children of critical workers, such as healthcare professionals and emergency services personnel.
Pupils Due to Take Public Examinations: Schools should make arrangements for pupils due to take public examinations to ensure they can sit their exams.

Other Considerations:

Remote Education: Schools can provide remote education to pupils who are unable to attend school due to industrial action.
School Meals and Out-of-Hours Care: Schools should make arrangements for school meals and out-of-hours care to continue during industrial action.
* Recording Pupils' Attendance: Schools should record pupils' attendance during industrial action and provide this information to parents and the Local Authority.