List of Cumbria's school closures ahead of strike action

It comes as members of the National Education Union announced a commitment to a walkout on July 5 and 7, continuing their campaign to win an above-inflation pay rise.

For NEU teacher members in England’s state schools, this week marks their seventh and eighth day of strike action since February 1.

Commenting ahead of the latest strike days, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the National Education Union, said: 

"It is within Gillian Keegan's grasp for this action to be halted.

"Time and again the National Education Union, alongside its sister unions, have called for the Education Secretary to get around the negotiation table to settle this dispute for a fully-funded teacher pay increase.

Education is in crisis and schools need the funds to give children the education they deserve.

The @NEUnion has taken out an advert in over 30 newspapers in England calling on @GillianKeegan to restart talks to avoid strikes on Wednesday 5 and Friday 7 July.

Teachers and… pic.twitter.com/gxOi9SzEIa

— National Education Union (@NEUnion) July 1, 2023

"Time and again our calls have fallen on stony ground.  

"Unlike her counterparts in Scotland and Wales where the pay disputes have been settled, this Education Secretary has wilfully turned her back on teachers in England.

"No one wants to take strike action but when faced with an Education Secretary who clearly has no interest in settling this dispute, teachers are left with no option.

"Gillian Keegan could avoid the strikes in July by publishing the STRB report, entering substantive talks with us and the education unions, ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT to find a settlement on its response to the report, its funding and this year’s pay rise," they said. 

The full list of school closures for North and West Cumbria is as follows:

• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Frizington and Gosforth CofE School in Seascale will also be closed on July 5. 
   
• St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School in Whitehaven will also close its doors on July 5, however, children in reception class should still attend. 
   
• Mayfield School, Whitehaven, will be closed on July 7.
   
• In Eden, Lazonby CofE School, Penrith, will be closed on Friday, July 7.
   
• In Allerdale, Victoria Infant and Nursery School, in Workington, and Ewanrigg Junior School, in Maryport, will be closed on July 7 also. 

*Subject to update