Midlands Schools Shut as Teachers Strike Over Redundancy Threat - Full List

Midlands Schools Shut as Teachers Strike Over Redundancy Threat

Thousands of pupils across the Midlands region remained at home today as teachers at multiple schools continued their strike action in protest against potential job losses. The industrial action has forced numerous educational institutions to either close completely or operate with reduced capacity, disrupting learning for children and families throughout the area.

Dispute Over Financial Management and Job Security

The strike centres on a dispute between the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) and the National Education Union (NEU), which represents teaching staff. The conflict emerged after approximately 100 staff members were placed at risk of redundancy due to what the union describes as financial challenges within the trust. This situation has created significant uncertainty for educators and raised concerns about the stability of affected schools.

In Sutton Coldfield, The Royal Sutton School was operating with partial closures, just days after teacher Sam Baggott publicly criticised what he called the trust's "financial mismanagement." With his own position under threat, Baggott joined hundreds of fellow protestors in Birmingham last Thursday to demonstrate against the ATLP's proposed cuts and redundancy plans.

Trust's Response and Ongoing Negotiations

This morning, a spokesperson for the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership addressed the situation, stating: "We continue to work hard to tackle the financial challenges we face so that we can bring stability to the Trust and schools as quickly as possible. To ensure we move forward rapidly to secure our long-term future, we have already implemented a programme of significant change."

The spokesperson outlined several measures being taken, including:

• Identifying numerous savings across operations
• Continuing to review every area of expenditure
• Appointing external and experienced senior leaders

"We also continue to engage constructively with the NEU and while further strikes have been scheduled, arrangements remain in place to ensure all pupils can continue their learning," the spokesperson added. "Our schools, pupils and families are at the heart of every decision and process in place. We remain committed to resolving this dispute as swiftly as possible and doing everything we can to support a stronger and more sustainable future for our schools."

Complete List of School Status for Today

Here is the comprehensive breakdown of school operations across the Midlands region for today, Monday, January 26:

Fully Closed Schools

The following educational institutions are completely closed today:

1. Curdworth Primary School
2. Hill West Primary School
3. Mere Green Primary School
4. St Michael's C of E Primary School
5. Osborne Primary School
6. St Chad's CE Primary School

Partially Closed Schools

The following schools are operating with reduced capacity, remaining open only to vulnerable pupils and/or specific classes or examination year groups:

• Anna Seward Primary School
• Paget Primary School
• Slade Primary School
• William MacGregor Primary School
• Two Gates Primary School
• The Coleshill School
• The Royal Sutton School
• Nether Stowe School
• Stockland Green School
• The Arthur Terry School
• West Coventry Academy
• Scotch Orchard Primary School
• Coton Green Primary School

Open Schools

The following educational institutions are operating normally and remain open today:

1. The Bridge Academy
2. Greysbrooke Primary School
3. Brookvale Primary School
4. Dunstall Park Primary School
5. Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant School

The industrial action continues to affect educational provision across the Midlands, with both teaching staff and trust management seeking resolution to the redundancy dispute that has prompted this significant disruption to children's learning.