The educational landscape across Birmingham and the wider Midlands region faces further disruption as the National Education Union announces an extension of industrial action. Teachers and support staff at twenty schools within the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership will participate in nine additional days of strikes, compounding an ongoing dispute over proposed redundancies.
Escalation of Industrial Action
The National Education Union has confirmed a significant escalation in its campaign against the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership. This announcement follows an impasse in negotiations with the Birmingham-based multi-academy trust, which is seeking to make approximately one hundred staff redundant due to financial pressures. The new strike dates will bring the total number of industrial action days to eighteen for the twenty schools currently involved.
Detailed Timeline of Disruption
The upcoming strike action is scheduled to occur in two distinct blocks during February, immediately preceding the winter half-term break. The first phase will see closures from Monday, February 2nd through Thursday, February 5th. This will be followed by a complete week of industrial action from Monday, February 9th until Friday, February 13th, the final day before the holiday period begins.
This extension comes as staff are midway through their initial series of nine strike days, with four already completed and further action planned for the remainder of January. The union has simultaneously initiated re-balloting procedures at four additional ATLP schools where staff have not yet participated in strikes, responding directly to member requests for involvement.
Schools Affected by Closures
The industrial action will impact educational institutions across multiple local authorities, with varying degrees of disruption expected. Four primary schools that experienced complete closures during earlier strikes will face further shutdowns in February. These include Hill West Primary and Mere Green Primary in Sutton Coldfield, alongside St Michael's C of E Primary in Lichfield and Curdworth Primary.
Secondary School Impact
Several secondary institutions will maintain limited opening arrangements during strike periods, primarily catering to vulnerable children, specific classes, and examination students. The affected secondary schools are:
- Arthur Terry School in Sutton Coldfield
- The Royal Sutton School in Sutton Coldfield
- Stockland Green School in Erdington
- Nether Stowe School in Lichfield
- The Coleshill School
- West Coventry Academy
Primary School Disruption
Additional primary schools facing limited opening arrangements include multiple institutions across Erdington, Lichfield, and Tamworth. The comprehensive list comprises:
- Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant School
- Osborne Primary School
- Paget Primary School
- Slade Primary School
- St Chad's CE Primary School
- Scotch Orchard Primary School
- Anna Seward Primary School
- Coton Green Primary School
- William MacGregor Primary School
- Two Gates Primary School
Union Perspective and Public Response
Chris Denson, Joint Secretary at Coventry NEU and National Executive Member, emphasised the widespread support for industrial action. "The response from parents and the public has been huge," he stated. "Massive pickets and demonstrations with very vocal parental support has shown that there is widespread backing of teachers and support staff in making this important stand."
Denson further criticised the trust's financial management, highlighting concerns about central spending increases despite the organisation's financial difficulties. "We are dismayed that since the financial error was made, the central spend in the Trust increased by several million pounds, rather than being cut," he commented, noting that central expenditure reached twenty-nine percent in 2025.
Planned Protest Action
The union has organised a public demonstration in Birmingham's Victoria Square, scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd. The rally will commence at 10:30 AM with speeches beginning at 11:00 AM, featuring addresses from NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede and other representatives discussing the ongoing dispute with ATLP.
Trust Response and Remote Learning
Arthur Terry Learning Partnership has acknowledged the disruptive impact of continued strikes on students' education. A trust spokeswoman stated: "Many children and young people are again not able to attend school today because of the ongoing strikes, which is deeply regrettable."
The trust has implemented remote learning provisions for affected students and emphasised its commitment to resolving the dispute. "We are doing all we can to resolve the dispute as swiftly as possible," the spokeswoman added, "including continuing to hold constructive talks with the NEU and reviewing all budgets to ensure our schools move towards a stronger and more sustainable future."
As the situation develops, parents across the Midlands region face continued uncertainty regarding their children's education, with the prospect of further disruption extending well into the spring term.
