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Update: Strike to hit 52 schools
12:14pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008
Comments (18)THE number of schools in Oxfordshire affected by tomorrow's teachers' strike has risen to 52.
Of the 232 primary schools, 33 secondary schools and one academy in the county, 31 have confirmed they will close and another 21 only have lessons for some pupils.
Listed below are schools expected to either close or be affected, according to Oxfordshire County Council or the NUT:
- Banbury School, Ruskin Road, Banbury (Yr 13 languages oral exams and business case study exam will continue)
- Bardwell Special School, Sunderland Drive, Bicester
- Blessed George Napier Catholic School, Addison Road, Banbury (Yrs 7-9 closed)
- Bloxham C of E Primary School, Tadmarton Road, Bloxham
- Carterton Primary School, Burford Road, Carterton
- Chiltern Edge School, Reades Lane, Sonning Common
- Chipping Norton School, Burford Road, Chipping Norton (Yrs 7-9. Open Yrs 10-13)
- Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School, Bartholomew Road, Oxford
- Cumnor Church of England School, Oxford Road, Cumnor
- Cutteslowe Primary School, Wren Road, Oxford
- Edward Feild Primary School, Bicester Road, Kidlington (except nursery)
- Fitzharrys School, Northcourt Road, Abingdon
- Fritwell Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, East Street, Fritwell, Bicester (three out of six classrooms closed)
- Grove Church of England School, North Drive, Grove (all classes open except one)
- Harriers Ground Community Primary School, Bloxham Road, Banbury (Yrs 5 and 6 open)
- Hook Norton Church of England Primary School, Sibford Road, Hook Norton
- Icknield Community College, Love Lane, Watlington (Yrs 7-9 closed)
- Iffley Mead School, Iffley Turn, Oxford
- John Blandy Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Laurel Drive, Southmoor
- John Mason School, Wootton Road, Abingdon (Yr 11 exam students can work with teachers)
- Larkmead School, Faringdon Road, Abingdon
- Larkrise Primary School, Boundary Brook Road, Oxford (foundation unit open)
- Millbrook Primary School, School Lane, Grove (Yr 6 open)
- New Hinksey Church of England Primary School, Vicarage Road, Oxford 9Yrs 5 and 6 and foundation stage open)
- Northbourne Church of England Primary School, Didcot (only pink, grey and brown classes open
- Northfield School, Knights Road, Blackbird Leys
- Orchard Fields Community School, Prescott Close, Banbury Orchard Meadow Primary School, Wesley Close, Oxford Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Oxford Road, Cowley
- Oxford Community School, Glanville Road, East Oxford
- Peers School, Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, Oxford
- SS Mary and John Church of England Primary School, Meadow Lane, Oxford (KS1 at Hertford Street open)
- St Aloysius' Catholic Primary School, Woodstock Road, Oxford
- St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Station Road, Chinnor (all classes open except Yrs 1 & 2)
- St Christopher's Church of England Primary School, Langford, Lechlade
- St Ebbe's School, Whitehouse Road, Oxford
- St Francis Church of England Primary School, Horspath Road, Cowley
- St Gregory the Great Catholic School, Cricket Road, Oxford (Yrs 7-10 closed)
- St John's Primary School, St Johns Road, Wallingford
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary SChool, Thame (Yrs 1-3 closed)
- St Nicholas C of E Primary School, East Challow, Wantage
- St Swithun's Church of England Primary School, Kennington
- Stanford-in-the-Vale C of E Primary School, High Street, Stanford in the Vale
- Stephen Freeman Community School, Freeman Road, Didcot (two classrooms closed)
- Stockham Primary School, Stockham Way, Wantage
- Stoke Row Church of England Primary School, Henley-on-Thames (KS2 classes closed)
- Stonesfield Primary School, High Street, Stonesfield, Witney (KS2 classes closed for Yrs 3-6 only)
- Tetsworth Primary School, Tetsworth, Thame
- Thameside Primary School, Cotman Close, Abingdon
- The Blake Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Cogges Hill Road, Witney
- The Henry Box School, Church Green, Witney (open except for Yrs 8 & 9)
- The Marlborough School, Shipton Road, Woodstock (Yrs 12 & 13 open)
- Watchfield Primary School, North Street, Watchfield
Your Say Yourthisisoxfordshire
Mark Ladbrooke, Headington says...
10:31am Wed 23 Apr 08
If teachers (and public sector workers generally) dont take action to defend the value of their pay then in future no one will be prepared to work for poverty pay in our schools, hospitals and benefit offices.
We really need to persuade the government that none of us are prepared to work in a low wage economy. The problem lies with the government which has billions to bail out rich bankers (who previoulsy paid themselves millions in bonuses) and below inflation pay proposals for public sector workers.
Regards, Mark Ladbrooke
Secretary UNISON Oxfordshire Health.
We really need to persuade the government that none of us are prepared to work in a low wage economy. The problem lies with the government which has billions to bail out rich bankers (who previoulsy paid themselves millions in bonuses) and below inflation pay proposals for public sector workers.
Regards, Mark Ladbrooke
Secretary UNISON Oxfordshire Health.
Dave, Kidlington says...
1:15pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Victoria, Markmis right - teachers (and other public sector workers MUST stick up for themselves. Teachers, whatever the Daily mail like us to think, work very hard and are underpaid. I'm having to take tomorrow off work to look after my kids but despite the inconvenience I'm right behind the strike (the first time teachers have been out for 20 years, remember)
CPD, says...
1:43pm Wed 23 Apr 08
I agree with Victoria. Who says teachers are under-paid? Most of the ones I know are relatively well paid - certainly not on "poverty pay".
Mark, this is 21st century Britain, not a socialist state where we can bully the government into paying us all what we think we're entitled to. What about private sector workers? - or are we less deserving than our saintly, (naturally) hard-working public sector counterparts?
If you don't like the pay you get, you could always get another job ... or is that a very nasty thing to say? But it's what most of us would have to do, those that don't belong to trade unions that still like to spout the sort of class-war rhetoric that should have died out years ago - and has for most people.
And Dave - you are lucky that you are able to take time off at short notice - not everyone is going to find that easy. What about them?
I should add (though it should be unnecessary) that good teachers are of course very important. But I do get fed up with this patronising, "low paid", saintly stereotype that is too often applied to them. There are good teachers and not so good teachers, just like in any other profession. They aren't all entitled to lots more money at everyone else's expense.
Mark, this is 21st century Britain, not a socialist state where we can bully the government into paying us all what we think we're entitled to. What about private sector workers? - or are we less deserving than our saintly, (naturally) hard-working public sector counterparts?
If you don't like the pay you get, you could always get another job ... or is that a very nasty thing to say? But it's what most of us would have to do, those that don't belong to trade unions that still like to spout the sort of class-war rhetoric that should have died out years ago - and has for most people.
And Dave - you are lucky that you are able to take time off at short notice - not everyone is going to find that easy. What about them?
I should add (though it should be unnecessary) that good teachers are of course very important. But I do get fed up with this patronising, "low paid", saintly stereotype that is too often applied to them. There are good teachers and not so good teachers, just like in any other profession. They aren't all entitled to lots more money at everyone else's expense.
Rob, Oxford says...
2:27pm Wed 23 Apr 08
The strike day has been flagged for weeks - you should keep up with the news.
No - teachers aren't on poverty rates of pay but they do an enormously important job for which they are paid much less than other professionals e.g. solictors, accountants, builders etc. who set their own pay rates through near cartels.
Good luck to the teachers! Solidarity!
No - teachers aren't on poverty rates of pay but they do an enormously important job for which they are paid much less than other professionals e.g. solictors, accountants, builders etc. who set their own pay rates through near cartels.
Good luck to the teachers! Solidarity!
Anon (RAF), The Desert says...
3:53pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Underpaid, poverty pay ...You should try doing our job in the desert...Underfire , under pressure and under valued ..We wont mention the pay and most of all un appreciated...
Oh and we don't get every school holiday off !!
Oh and we don't get every school holiday off !!
Toby, Oxford says...
4:36pm Wed 23 Apr 08
So how come we can find billions to wage an illegal war of aggression against Iraq, and not pay our teachers/police/troo
ps what they deserve?
The system is f****d up, and no current party of any hue would sort it out. It would make you laugh if it didn't make you cry.
What happened to my green and pleasant land.
ps what they deserve?
The system is f****d up, and no current party of any hue would sort it out. It would make you laugh if it didn't make you cry.
What happened to my green and pleasant land.
Victoria Evans, Carterton says...
5:29pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Rob wrote:SInce when? I have been watching and reading the news on a daily basis and certainly did not see any concrete dates until this week. And then the date was only made concrete on Tuesday ... wow, a whole 48 hrs in advance!!!
The strike day has been flagged for weeks - you should keep up with the news. No - teachers aren\'t on poverty rates of pay but they do an enormously important job for which they are paid much less than other professionals e.g. solictors, accountants, builders etc. who set their own pay rates through near cartels. Good luck to the teachers! Solidarity!
At least the firemen gave set dates 4 weeks in advance of their strike action and gave us time to make plans. But oh no, cant possibly have teachers take considerate action can we?!!!
At least they can plan their work for the school year uninteruppted during the holdiays. Some of us have to work to deadlines and do so without that kind of luxury but WE dont bleat about it and hold those completely innocent of the situation ransom.
oxford, oxford says...
5:49pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Victoria Evans wrote:goodness victoria, if you've that much to do why are you sat here complaining?
Rob wrote:SInce when? I have been watching and reading the news on a daily basis and certainly did not see any concrete dates until this week. And then the date was only made concrete on Tuesday ... wow, a whole 48 hrs in advance!!!
The strike day has been flagged for weeks - you should keep up with the news. No - teachers aren\'t on poverty rates of pay but they do an enormously important job for which they are paid much less than other professionals e.g. solictors, accountants, builders etc. who set their own pay rates through near cartels. Good luck to the teachers! Solidarity!
At least the firemen gave set dates 4 weeks in advance of their strike action and gave us time to make plans. But oh no, cant possibly have teachers take considerate action can we?!!!
At least they can plan their work for the school year uninteruppted during the holdiays. Some of us have to work to deadlines and do so without that kind of luxury but WE dont bleat about it and hold those completely innocent of the situation ransom.
nicole, says...
5:57pm Wed 23 Apr 08
I totally agree with Anon (Desert) - a teacher's lot doesn't even compare to that of a soldier etc. The teacher's wages aren't that bad and if they're good at their job, they can progress and get more money, just like in the real world. And in the real world we don't get 13 weeks holiday and get to go home early. I know they have work to do outside their core hours but then so do the rest of us at times!! Their timing is great - just as the older kids are coming up to exams. Surely when you go into teaching, you have to agree to put the kids first. That's not exactly happening now........
S, Oxon says...
7:06pm Wed 23 Apr 08
The date of the strike was fixed at least as early as 22nd March, confirmed after the vote on 1st April. Plenty of warning.
Nicole, no, you're right. I can never compare my job to a soldier's. But you have surely never been or met a real teacher - not many teachers go home 'early' and we have to work outside our core hours constantly, not just 'at times'. And at my school, the core hours are 8.30 - 4.30, same length as the 'real world's' average working day. Besides, if kids come first, then we must work extremely hard fulfilling all their preparation and marking needs, usually without a thought for our own well-being, or (dare I say it?) social life. I know I chose to sign up for all of that but I think we deserve a little compensation for it, rather than a pay cut, don't you?
But before anyone's claws come out, I will not be striking, partly because I do not think it is effective, but mostly because I will be putting the kids first - I have the futures of at least 3 exam classes in my hands.
Nicole, no, you're right. I can never compare my job to a soldier's. But you have surely never been or met a real teacher - not many teachers go home 'early' and we have to work outside our core hours constantly, not just 'at times'. And at my school, the core hours are 8.30 - 4.30, same length as the 'real world's' average working day. Besides, if kids come first, then we must work extremely hard fulfilling all their preparation and marking needs, usually without a thought for our own well-being, or (dare I say it?) social life. I know I chose to sign up for all of that but I think we deserve a little compensation for it, rather than a pay cut, don't you?
But before anyone's claws come out, I will not be striking, partly because I do not think it is effective, but mostly because I will be putting the kids first - I have the futures of at least 3 exam classes in my hands.
eminoxford, says...
7:08pm Wed 23 Apr 08
What a delightful comment from the previous er person!! But I would like to point out that the spelling is excellent! must have had a very good teacher!!!
eminoxford, oxford says...
7:10pm Wed 23 Apr 08
What a delightful comment from the previous er person!! But I would like to point out that the spelling is excellent! must have had a very good teacher!!!
S, Oxon says...
7:25pm Wed 23 Apr 08
I hope you mean the nice, friendly post that was deleted, not mine!
nicole, says...
7:43pm Wed 23 Apr 08
To be honest S, Oxon, I've never been a teacher but deal with them everyday as part of my own job. On the whole I find them to be a disillusioned, unhappy lot though you do get the odd one still full of enthusiasm. Can't usually get hold of them beyond 4pm though - especially not the primary school teachers. And I've had 3 kids go through the education system and as in all fields - you get the good teachers and bad teachers (the ones that make your heart sink when you hear your child has been lumbered with them!!)Hopefully the good teachers will be rewarded for good results and the bad ones not! Point is, the c**ps hit the fan for all of us with regards to the increased cost of living. It's just that most of us can't hold others to ransom to get our own way. Having said all that - respect to you for doing what I consider to be the right thing.
Victoria Evans, Carterton says...
9:09pm Wed 23 Apr 08
S wrote:
The date of the strike was fixed at least as early as 22nd March, confirmed after the vote on 1st April. Plenty of warning.
So why was I only told TUESDAY NIGHT (22nd April) that my daughter would not be able to go to school on Thursday because of strike action?
Why was I not told on 1st April, and given the chance to at least try and take a day's holiday?
Simply I was not, and nor were thousands of other parents in this area. Burford School is STILL not even mentioned on the Oxfordshire County COuncil website nor on this site in their list of schools affected so I fear you are grossly mislead if you think we were all notified of the strike date on 1st April.
eminoxford, oxford says...
10:38pm Wed 23 Apr 08
oops, sorry S oxford!! Yes I did mean the comment that got deleted. Incidently I am a primary school teacher but WILL be teaching tomorrow as I don't believe in striking - it ends up hurting the wrong people. Nicole - the reason you can't get hold of a teacher after 4 is nothing to do with the teachers - they will either be in meetings attending training sessions or in their classrooms working. Teachers do not have time to hang around in reception areas after school answering phones!!! You really do seem quite ignorant about the roles and responsibilities of teachers.
nicole, says...
6:22pm Fri 25 Apr 08
I think I am entitled to my opinion eminoxford. As I said - I have had LOTS of experience dealing with teachers on a professional and personal basis - including spending large amounts of time actually in schools. I'm not saying ALL teachers disappear at 4 - just that I don't think their lot is as bad as they make out. And if they're that fed up, they're probably not the right people to be teaching our kids. Again I say - the good teachers should be recognised and the bad ones removed, as would happen in the commercial world instead of lingering on in a job they dislike or can't do!!!
Chris Blakey, front, president of the Oxfordshire NUT branch, with other teachers from Larkrise School and their union banner
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Victoria Evans, Carterton says...
8:36am Wed 23 Apr 08
Not enough notice for me or my husband to try and get the day off work YET if we were to take our child out for a day we have to give plenty of notice!
I am sick to death of people being held to ransom with strike action. It is NOT RELEVANT in this day and age, and as usual the ones to suffer from it most are the most innocent ones.
Shame on you for striking. Shame on you!