Teachers' strike closes schools

Members of the National Union of Teachers in England and Wales will stage their first national strike in 21 years today, forcing the closure or partial closure of thousands of schools, while lecturers from hundreds of colleges and civil servants from ten Government departments and agencies will also take strike action across the UK.

More than 500 schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire will be affected by the strike.

Local education authorities say 300 schools will close for the day, while a further 200 will run reduced timetables.

The teachers will be joined in the walkout by lectures from Darlington and Derwentside colleges, in County Durham.

Derwentside's Lanchester site will close for the day, although bosses at Darlington College said it would be business as usual today.

More than 50 rallies will be held by striking workers amid warnings that unrest in the civil service could escalate this summer because of anger over belowinflation pay offers.

Teachers in the North-East will gather at Gray's Monument, Newcastle, at 2pm.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the teachers' strike was very regrettable, telling MPs during Prime Ministers questions that he hoped they would reconsider any further industrial action.

He said: "I think it is very regrettable that the teachers are going on strike tomorrow, and the reason is that even the chairman of the pay review body has said this is an independent award, independently adjudicated, one that the teachers should be prepared to accept.

"I hope that, after reflection, the teachers will reconsider the action that they are going to take in the future on this matter."

The British Chambers of Commerce warned the strike could cost businesses up to £68m in lost working hours because parents would have to take time off work or pay for extra childcare.

About a third of schools will be hit by the strike, with up to 2,000 closing and a similar number partially closing.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said the three-year pay deal of 2.45 per cent from September and rises of 2.3 per cent in subsequent years was fair and reasonable and would not be improved.

"Parents feel increasingly frustrated and inconvenienced at the loss of education to their children, and I share their feelings,"

he said.

"Given that the average teacher's salary is £34,000, and pay has increased by 19 per cent since 1997, I would urge teachers to teach."

NUT acting general secretary Christine Blower said the strike was a last resort, adding that teachers had received three years of below-inflation pay increases.

He said: "Despite the committed and professional work of teachers, teacher shortages, excessive workload and falling teacher morale are damaging our education system."

Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "It is deeply regrettable that so many children will have their education disrupted by this strike, especially as the pay deal was recommended by an independent panel and accepted by the other teaching unions.

"Many children have important exams coming up soon and can't afford to miss crucial lessons, and many parents will have to miss work to look after them."

Hundreds of coastguards went on strike last night, signalling the start of a series of walkouts by 100,000 civil servants across the UK.

The Public and Commercial Services Union revealed it would decide at its annual conference next month whether to hold a civil service-wide ballot for strikes over pay that could lead to national walkouts over the summer.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said the scale of industrial action today by civil servants, added to the action by teachers and lecturers in separate rows over pay, was huge.

Mr Serwotka said staff were furious over a series of below-inflation pay offers that had led to some workers, including more than a third of employees in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), receiving no wage increase this year.

"The Governments policy to peg public sector pay to below inflation is embedding a culture of low pay across civil and public services," he said.

"It is scandalous that coastguard watch assistants, who save lives, along with other colleagues in the civil service who deliver essential services, would be paid just above the minimum wage.

"The Government's argument that paying public and civil servants a decent wage fuels inflation is disingenuous and discredited."

Ten Government departments and agencies will be hit by today's civil service strike, including the DWP, Home Office, Transport Department, Driving Standards Agency and Land Registry.

The union said this could lead to delays at passport and immigration control.

Mr Serwotka said a number of Labour MPs were supporting the strike and he predicted that pressure would grow on the Government to change its pay policy.

Confirmed school closures today

DARLINGTON
NURSERY
George *
PRIMARY
Cockerton CE
Corporation Road *
Firthmoor *
Gurney Pease *
Hurworth
Mount Pleasant *
North Road *
Reid Street *
Skerne Park *
Springfield *
St George's CE *
St Teresas RC *
Whinfield *
SECONDARY
Carmel RC College *
Haughton Community *
DURHAM
NURSERY
Wingate
PRIMARY
Acre Rigg, Peterlee
Aycliffe Village
Benfieldside, Consett
Blessed John Duckett, Tow
Law
Bournmoor, Chester-le-St
Catchgate, Stanley
Crook Primary
Dean Bank, Ferryhill
Etherley Lane, Bishop
Auckland *
Hesleden
Howden le Wear
Hunwick, Crook
Kelloe, Durham
King Street, Spennymoor
Lanchester All Saints RC
Lumley, Chester-le-St
(nursery open)
Moorside, Consett
Newker, Chester-le-St
New Seaham
North Park, Spennymoor *
Our Lady of the Rosary,
Peterlee
Oxclose, Spennymoor *
Ramshaw, Bishop Auckland
Rosa Street, Spennymoor
Shotley Bridge, Consett
South Pelaw, Chester-le-St
St Andrew's, Bishop
Auckland
St Charles, Spennymoor
St Francis, Newton Aycliffe
St Godric's RC, Thornley
St Joseph's, Murton
St Thomas More, Belmont*
St Mary Magdalene's RC,
Seaham
St Mary's RC, South Moor
Tanfield Community, Stanley
Woodham Burn, Newton
Aycliffe
Woodhouse, Bishop
Auckland *
Woodlea, Fence Houses
SECONDARY
Belmont Community Arts *
Consett Community Sports*
Sedgefield Community *
Tanfield School, Stanley
Wellfield Community,
Wingate *
GATESHEAD
PRIMARY
Bede
Birtley East *
Blaydon West
Brandling *
Brighton Avenue *
Caedmon
Clover Hill *
Colegate
Corpus Christi *
Crookhill
Dunston Hill *
Falla Park
Fell Dyke *
Front Street *
Glynwood
Greenside
Harlow Green
High Spen
Kells Lane
Kelvin Grove *
Kibblesworth *
Larkspur *
Lobley Hill
Marley Hill *
Oakfield *
Parkhead *
Portobello
Ravensworth Terrace *
Roman Road
Rowlands Gill
Ryton Junior
Ryton Infant
South Street
St Agnes'
St Aidan's
St Alban's
St Anne's
St Augustine's
St Joseph's, Gateshead
St Joseph's, Highfield
St Peter's
St Wilfrid's
Swalwell *
Wardley
White Mere *
Windy Nook *
Winlaton West Lane
SECONDARY
Heworth Grange
Hookergate
Kingsmeadow
Lord Lawson of Beamish *
Ryton Comprehensive
Thomas Hepburn
SPECIAL
Dryden *
Eslington *
Gibside
Hill Top
HARTLEPOOL
PRIMARY
Barnard Grove
Brougham
Clavering *
Elwick Hall
Fens *
Golden Flatts
Hart
Holy Trinity
Jesmond Road
Kingsley
Lynnfield *
Owton Manor
Rift House
St Aidan's
St Bega's
St Cuthbert's *
St John Vianney *
St. Teresa's *
Stranton
Throston
Ward Jackson
West Park
West View
SECONDARY
English Martyrs *
High Tunstall *
Manor *
St Hild's *
SPECIAL
Springwell *
MIDDLESBROUGH
PRIMARY
Archibald
Ayresome *
Beechwood *
Berwick Hills *
Brambles *
Breckon Hill *
Caldicotes *
Captain Cook *
Chandlers Ridge *
Green Lane *
Hemlington Hall *
Linthorpe *
North Ormesby *
Pallister Park *
Park End
Pennyman
St Alphonsus RC *
St Clare's RC *
St Thomas More RC
Sunnyside *
Viewley Hill *
SPECIAL
Holmwood *
Priory Woods *
NEWCASTLE
FIRST, PRIMARY,
MIDDLE
Archbishop Runcie *
Archibald First *
Atkinson Road
Benton Park *
Bridgewater *
Broadway First *
Broadwood
Canning Street
Cheviot *
Chillingham Road *
Christ Church
Cragside
Dinnington First *
English Martyrs *
Farne *
Gosforth East Middle
Gosforth Park
Hawthorn
Hotspur
Kenton Bar
Kingston Park
Knop Law *
Lemington Riverside
Milecastle
Moorside
Mountfield *
Newburn Manor
Ravenswood
Regent Farm *
Sacred Heart
Stocksfield Avenue
Simonside
St Anthony's
St Bede's
St Catherine's *
St Charles
St Cuthbert's, Kenton *
St John's
St John Vianney
St Paul's
St Theresa's *
St Vincent's
Thomas Walling
Tyneview
Walkergate
Waverley
Welbeck
West Denton
Westgate Hill *
West Jesmond *
Westerhope
West Walker *
Wharrier Street
Wingrove
Wyndham *
SECONDARY
Heaton Manor
Kenton School *
St Cuthberts RC *
Walker Technology College
West Gate Community
College
SPECIAL
Hadrian School
Kenton Lodge
Linhope PRU *
Sir Charles Parsons
NORTH TYNESIDE
FIRST, PRIMARY,
MIDDLE
Amberley *
Battle Hill
Burnside *
Burradon *
Christ Church CE *
Collingwood *
Cullercoats *
Fordley Community
Goathland
Hadrain Park *
Hazlewood
Holy Cross RC *
Holystone *
King Edward *
Langley First
Marine Park First
Monkhouse *
Monkseaton Middle *
New York
Percy Main
Priory *
Richardson Dees
Southridge First
Spring Gardens
Star of the Sea *
Stephenson Memorial
St Bernadette's RC *
St Columbus RC *
St Cuthbert's RC *
St Mary's
St Stephen's
Valley Gardens Middle
Waterville
Wallsend Jubilee First *
Wallsend St Peter's *
Western *
Westmoor *
Whitley Lodge First
SECONDARY
George Stephenson
Longbenton Community *
Monkseaton Community *
Seaton Burn Community *
St Thomas More *
Whitley Bay High *
SPECIAL
Glebe *
Woodlawn *
NORTH YORKSHIRE
PRIMARY, MIDDLE
Brayton Junior *
Hawes CP
Ingleton Middle
Kirkby & Great Broughton
Langton
Monk Fryston
Oatlands School,
Harrogate
Pickering Infant & Nursery*
Ripon Greystone CP
Selby Abbey *
Sherburn CE
Skipton Ings CP
Stokesley CP
Whitby, Airy Hill CP
SECONDARY
Bedale
Filey School *
Richmond *
Ripon College *
Risedale *
Selby High *
Settle College *
Sherburn High *
Upper Wharfedale *
Whitby CC *
REDCAR & CLEVELAND
PRIMARY
Bankfields
Coatham
Dormanstown
Hummersea
Ings Farm
Lakes
Newcomen
Normanby
Nunthorpe
Overfields
Saltburn
St Bede's RC
St Benedict's RC
St Joseph's RC
St Paulinus RC
St Peter's CoE
Wheatlands
Wilton
Zetland
SPECIAL
Kilton Thorpe
STOCKTON
PRIMARY
Bader (nursery open)
Bewley Junior *
Billingham South *
Bowesfield *
Fairfield *
Junction Farm *
Hardwick *
Harrow Gate *
Holy Trinity *
Layfield
Mandale Mill
Mill Lane
Norton Primary
Oxbridge *
Pentland *
Priors Mill *
Redbrook *
Roseberry *
St Francis of Assisi *
St Josephs, Norton *
St Mark's *
St Mary's *
St Patrick's *
The Glebe
The Oak Tree
Thornaby CE
Tilery
Whitehouse
Yarm *
SECONDARY
All Saints *
Billingham Campus *
Bishopsgarth *
Blakeston
Conyers
Eaglesciffe
Grangefield *
Our Lady of St Bede *
St Michael's *
St Patrick's
The Norton
SPECIAL
Ash Trees *
SOUTH TYNESIDE
NURSERY
Early Years Excellence
Centre
PRIMARY
Albert Elliott
All Saints
Ashley Primary
Albert Elliott
All Saints
Ashley Primary
Biddick Hall Infants
Boldon
Cleadon
East Boldon Infants
Fellgate *
Harton Juniors
Harton Infants
Hedworthfield *
Hedworth Lane
Laygate
Lord Blyton
Lukes Lane *
Monkton Junior
Monkton Infants
Mortimer
Ridgeway
Sea View
Simonside
St Oswalds CE
St Oswalds RC *
Temple Park Infants
Toner Avenue *
Valley View
West Boldon
Westoe Crown
Whitburn Village
SECONDARY
Harton *
Jarrow
Mortimer *
St Joseph's RC *
St Wilfrid's RC *
Whitburn C of E *
SPECIAL
Galsworthy
Margaret Sutton
Oakleigh Gardens
SUNDERLAND
NURSERY
Hetton Lyons *
Usworth Colliery *
PRIMARY
Albany Village *
Barmston Village
Barnes Infant
Barnes Junior
Barnwell
Bernard Gilpin
Bishop Harland
Blackfell
Broadway Junior *
Castletown *
Diamond Hall Infant
Diamond Hall Junior
Dubmire
Easington Lane
East Herrington
East Rainton
English Martyrs RC
Eppleton
Farringdon
Fulwell Infant *
Fulwell Junior *
George Washington
Gillas Lane *
Grindon Infant *
Hasting Hill
Hetton Lyons
Hill View Infant
Hill View Junior
Holley Park *
Hudson Road *
Hylton Castle *
Hylton Red House
John F Kennedy
Lambton *
New Penshaw
New Silksworth Junior
Newbottle
Plains Farm
Quarry View
Redby
Richard Avenue
Rickleton *
Ryhope Infant
Ryhope Junior *
Seaburn Dene *
Shiney Row *
South Hylton
Springwell Village *
St Anne's RC *
St Benet's RC
St Cuthbert's RC
St John Bosco RC *
St John Boste RC
St Joseph's RC,
Sunderland
St Joseph's RC,
Washington
St Leonard's RC
St Mary's RC
St Patrick's RC
Town End
Usworth Colliery
Usworth Grange *
Valley Road Community
Wessington
Witherwack *
SECONDARY
Biddick
Castle View
Hetton
Houghton Kepier
Hylton Red House
Monkwearmouth
Pennywell
Sandhill View
Southmoor
St Aidan's RC *
St Robert of Newminster*
Thornhill
Venerable Bede CE
Washington
SPECIAL
Barbara Priestman
Castlegreen Community
Columbia Grange
Portland *
Springwell Dene
YORK
PRIMARY
Burton Green
Wheldrake
Fishergate
Park Grove
Poppleton
Ousebank
Woodthorpe
Derwent Infant
SPECIAL
Hob Moor Oaks
(* Partially closed)