A number of Cumbrian schools have announced that they are set to close due to the upcoming teachers’ strike this week.

Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) in Cumbria voted overwhelmingly for strike action and will walk out for four initial days of action in February and March.

Individual schools will have to announce in the coming days whether or not they will close their doors to pupils on February 1.

Schools that have so far announced they will close according to Cumbria County Council are:

  • Bishop Harvey Goodwin School in Carlisle
  • Ewanrigg Junior School
  • Frizington Community Primary School
  • Gosforth Church of England Primary School
  • Montreal Church of England Primary School
  • Morland Area Church of England Primary School
  • Seascale Primary School
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Frizington
  • Nelson Thomlinson Junior School in Wigton
  • Derwent Vale Primary School
  • St Catherine's Catholic Primary School in Penrith
  • Orton Church of England School (will be open to children going to young voices)
  • Grasslot Infant School in Maryport
  • Black Combe Junior School in Millom
  • Upperby Primary School
  • Brook Street Primary School (School will be open to early years, year 1 and year 4)
  • Holm Cultram Abbey Church of England School
  • Monkwray Junior School
  • Bransty Primary School
  • Victoria Junior School in Workington
  • Victoria Infant and Nursery School in Workington 
  • Our Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (Years 1 - 6 open as normal)
  • Maryport Church of England School (paritally) 
  • Skelton School
  • Warwick Bridge Primary School (School will be open for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils only)
  • Brampton Primary School (School will be open to year 1 and year 2)
  • Beacon Hill Community School (School will remain open for Year 11 and some vulnerable students)
  • Energy Coast UTC (School will be closed for Y10 and open from 08:30-13:00 for Y11. School is open as normal for Y12 and 13.)
  • Cumwhinton School
  • Alston Primary School 
  • Nenthead Primary School
  • Blackford Church of England Primary School
  • Cockermouth School (School will be closed to Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 only)
  • Caldew School (The school is open for Years 11, 12 and 13 only)
  • St Bridget's Church of England School, Whitehaven
  • St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Carlisle 
  • Ellenborough Academy
  • Ivegill Church of England Primary School
  • Stoneraise School 
  • St James' Infant and Nursery School, Whitehaven (Melbreak class will be open)
  • North Lakes School (School will be closed to most classes due to strike action)
  • St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Wigton
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whitehaven (The closure will affect Years 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.)
  • St James' Church of England Junior School, Whitehaven (Year 5 & 6 -Windermere, Ullswater & Derwentwater classes - will be open)
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Cleator Moor
  • St Benedict's Catholic High School 
  • Jericho Primary School, Whitehaven
  • Mayfield School 
  • Great Corby Primary School (Class 2 will be closed all day. Early years will be open until 1pm only. All other classes will run as normal.)
  • Whitehaven Academy (Resources are available to students on Satchel One. Students in Years 11, 12 and 13 should attend school as normal)
  • Workington Academy (The academy will be open to students in Y11, 12 and 13)
  • Oughterside Primary School (The school will remain partially open for KS2)
  • St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bothel (School is closed all day to Nursery, Reception and Year 1; School is open in the morning for Year 2 but these children should be picked up at 1pm; School is open all day to Years 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  • Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith (School remains open to Years 11 & 13 and any vulnerable children)

Head teachers and school governing bodies are responsible for determining whether or not a school can safely open on any given day.

This might mean full closure, particularly if key personnel have chosen to join the picket lines but otherwise schools can choose to stand down only part of the school

The first day of strike action is set to be on February 1 with Cumbrian teachers also holding strike action on February 28 alongside March 15 and 16.

Staff will be on strike in a national dispute over pay as according to the union teachers have lost “23 per cent in real-terms pay since 2010, and support staff 27 per cent over the same period.”

Teachers have been awarded an average 5 per cent pay rise this year, which the union say is some 7% behind inflation and has caused teachers and support staff to leave the profession.