THOUSANDS of parents are being warned their children's schools will be forced to close by next Tuesday's teachers' strike, but many may not find out until the day itself. Up to 5,000 members of the biggest teaching unions, the NUT and NASUWT, are expected to join the walk out in a national row over pensions, pay and conditions.
The unions have warned most Hull and East Riding schools will be forced to shut because their members make up 90 per cent of the workforce. Hull City Council has revealed it will not be able to release a list of schools intending to strike until Monday.
However, individual city schools will be contacting parents.
Some East Riding secondaries – including Cottingham, Wolfreton, South Hunsley, Withernsea, Headlands and Howden – have already told parents they will be partly or fully closed.
But others, including Beverley Grammar School, have warned parents the decision may not be made until the day itself, when it becomes clear just how many staff are joining the action.
Council officials in the East Riding are asking heads to indicate today whether they think they will have to close.
Paul Butler, inclusion and access manager East Riding Council, said: "We would hope most schools will have a very good idea by the end of the week.
"Our advice will be wherever possible schools should aim to stay open, either partially or fully.
"What we would not want is a school making a decision to close and then find out they have enough staff to stay open. In that situation parents would criticise the school even more. We have asked them to give an indication by Thursday, so we can inform the Department for Education."
A Hull City Council spokesmansaid: "The list of Hull schools that are planning to participate in the strike action on October 1 is still being collated and will be available on Monday, September 30."
Unions do not have to inform schools which staff will be taking action and it may be they will not know themselves, as members do not have to obey a strike call.
Beverley Grammar School's parents have been told the academy will only close if staffing levels mean it is not safe to stay open.
In a letter to parents, chairman of governors Chris Bodsworth said: "Because we may not know until very late how many staff will be available to work, the decision to close may have to be taken at the last minute.
"Every effort will be made to give notice at the latest by the day before, but in case the decision has to be made on the day itself, we are asking parents to nominate a place of safety, which may be your home, to which your child can go if we have to close."
Mother of two Nikki Gillyon, whose children attend Longcroft School and St Mary's CE Primary in Beverley, said the strike will pose problems for working parents.
Mrs Gillyon said: "My husband and I both work full-time, so obviously the strike creates a lot of inconvenience.
"I know the teachers have their reasons but it's really hard for working parents to organise childcare, particularly at short notice."
Hull branch secretary of the NASUWT Adrian Joice said: "We would expect parents to be told as soon as possible if schools are closing because it is an inconvenience. The logical thing would be for schools to tell parents by Friday."
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