Over 40 schools set to fully close in Flintshire next Wednesday due to planned teachers strike
Flintshire Council has said 41 schools will be fully closed in the county should a planned teachers take place on Wednesday, February 1.
Wales is bracing itself for a wave of school closures as teachers across the country plan to strike on four separate days in February and March.
The industrial action, which is being organised by the National Education Union (NEU) is set to take place on Wednesday 1 February, Tuesday 14 February, Wednesday 15 March and Thursday 16 March.
The NEU is taking industrial action in response to what has been described as a “failure” to provide a fully-funded increase in pay for teachers which at least matches inflation.
In Wales a 92.28 per cent majority of NEU members voted yes on a turnout of 58.07 per cent.
The union has called for a pay rise higher than five per cent, however, the Welsh government has so far only offered a one-off payment for teaching staff in addition to the existing salary increase.
This was rejected by education representatives. A similar offer to health and social care staff has also been refused.
Wales’ education minister has said he “is committed” to working with teaching unions to prevent industrial action, despite an offer of a one-off payment being rejected.
Latest list
Flintshire Council has released a list of all schools that will be closed, partially closed and fully closed on Wednesday.
Flintshire’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, Councillor Ian Roberts, said:
“We appreciate parents’ concerns regarding any disruption on Wednesday, February 1 and we are working with schools to manage this in the best way possible.
“The full extent of the industrial action, however, will not be known until the day itself.
“The list of schools issued is current as of today (Friday 27 January) and is subject to change.
“Parents are advised to look out for communications from their child’s school and to take the necessary action.”
Date of Action: 1st Feb 2023
| School | Fully Open | Fully Closed | Partial |
| Abermorddu | x | ||
| Broughton | x | ||
| Brynford | x | ||
| Bryn Coch | x | ||
| Bryn Deva | x | ||
| Bryn Garth | x | ||
| Bryn Gwalia | x | ||
| Bryn Pennant | x | ||
| Cae’r Nant | x | ||
| Carmel | x | ||
| Cornist Park | x | ||
| Derwen/Kinnerton | x | ||
| Derwenfa/Leeswood | x | ||
| Drury | x | ||
| Estyn | x | ||
| Ewloe Green | x | ||
| Glan Aber | x | ||
| Golftyn | x | ||
| Gronant | x | ||
| Gwernymynydd | x | ||
| Gwynedd | x | ||
| Hawarden Village | x | ||
| Lixwm | x | ||
| Maes Glas | x | ||
| Maes y Felin | x | ||
| Merllyn | x | ||
| Mountain Lane | x | ||
| Mynydd Isa | x | ||
| Nannerch | x | ||
| Northop Hall | x | ||
| Owen Jones | x | ||
| Parc y Llan | x | ||
| Penarlag | x | ||
| Penyffordd | x | ||
| Queensferry | x | ||
| Rhos Helyg | x | ||
| Saltney Ferry | x | ||
| Sandycroft | x | ||
| Sealand | x | ||
| Southdown | x | ||
| Sychdyn | x | ||
| Trelogan | x | ||
| Ty Fynnon | x | ||
| Wepre | x | ||
| Westwood | x | ||
| Wood Memorial | x | ||
| Y Foel, Cilcain | x | ||
| Y Waun | x | ||
| St Ethelwold’s | x | ||
| St Mary’s, Nercwys | x | ||
| St John’s, Penymynydd | x | ||
| Trelawnyd VA | x | ||
| Yr Esgob, Caerwys | x | ||
| Ysgol y Llan, Whitford | x | ||
| St Anthony’s RC | x | ||
| St David’s RC | x | ||
| St Mary’s RC | x | ||
| St Winefride’s RC | x | ||
| Ven Edward Morgan | x | ||
| Ysgol Croes Atti Flint | |||
| Ysgol Croes Atti Glannau Dyfdrwy | |||
| Ysgol Glanrafon | x | ||
| Ysgol Gwenffrwd | x | ||
| Ysgol Mornant | x | ||
| Ysgol Terrig | x | ||
| Ysgol Pen Coch | x | ||
| Ysgol Maes Hyfryd | x | ||
| Plas Derwen PRU | x | ||
| Alun HS | x | ||
| Argoed HS | x | ||
| Castell Alun HS | x | ||
| Connah’s Quay HS | x | ||
| Elfed HS | x | ||
| Flint HS | x | ||
| Hawarden HS | x | ||
| St David’s HS | x | ||
| St Richard Gwyn CHS | x | ||
| Treffynnon | x | ||
| Ysgol Maes Garmon | x | ||
| Totals | 18 | 41 | 18 |
Education Minister
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Education Minister Jeremy Miles MS said that he is committed to working alongside unions to find a way forward.
However with no progress made with health unions, the minister was challenged on whether his negotiations would actually be successful.
Jeremy Miles said: “I’m not going to speculate on the future direction of those discussions, for reasons which I know you will understand.
“All I will say is that I’m absolutely committed to working with our social partners in that respectful way that we have here in Wales to seek a resolution to this.
Mr Miles said: “We met last week I was able to put a proposal on the table then. There are many, many aspects of that to discuss further with unions and local education authorities.
“We’ll be meeting again this week to take forward those discussions and I’ve said elsewhere and I’m very happy to repeat today, that I’m happy to meet as many times as it takes to get a resolution to the dispute.”
The minister would not be drawn on how much the Welsh government had offered to union representatives, but added that workload concern for staff was something that he was also trying to address.
He said: “The detail of the discussions as you’ll appreciate is something where we take you forward confidentially in the context of our social partnership, discussions with unions and local education authorities as the employer.
“I was able to make a proposal which was a one-off payment in addition to the five percent increase to salary.
“But alongside that, unions have for some time raised questions in relation to staff workload.
“We’ve actually had a process of discussion in relation to this in Wales over the course of the last year or more.
“Unfortunately to date we haven’t been able to resolve some of those quite thorny questions, but there is at least a clear understanding of the sorts of issues which teacher unions and heads have raised.
“In the context of the discussions we are currently having with unions, we’ve together committed to looking at those again and seeing what more we can do in relation to questions to do with workload as well as the question of pay.”
The NEU has declared potential national strike action in Wales for the following dates:
- Wednesday 1st February 2023
- Tuesday 14th February 2023
- Wednesday 15th March 2023
- Thursday 16th March 2023
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