AS teaching staff up and down the country prepare to strike next week, we have prepared a list of all the south Cumbria schools which have announced closures so far.

Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) in Cumbria voted overwhelmingly for strike action and will walk out for four initial days of action in February and March.

Individual schools will have to announce in the coming days whether or not they will close their doors to pupils on February 1.

The first day of strike action is set to be on February 1 with Cumbrian teachers also holding strike action on February 28 alongside March 15 and 16.

Schools that have so far announced they will close according to Cumbria County Council are:

  • Black Combe Junior School in Millom
  • Newbarns Primary and Nursery School in Barrow
  • George Romney Junior School in Dalton
  • St George's C of E School in Barrow

Other schools have shared the news on social media that they will be closing their doors for industrial action.

St Bernard’s Catholic High School released a statement to say it would be ‘unsafe’ to fully open on February 1, and will be open for Year 11 pupils but closed for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Fellow secondary school, Ulverston Victoria High School will also be partially closing to all students apart from those in Year 11, 12 and 13.

In a letter sent to parents, headteacher Matthew Hardwick said: “There are several challenges facing schools at present. Amongst these is the recruitment crisis in teaching, and the pay and conditions associated with that, which explain why the strikes are happening.

“However, it is also important that we provide the best possible service to our students on days of strike action whilst maintaining the safety of all staff and students on site on that day.”

Croftlands Junior School announced it would have to close the school to some classes.

In their weekly newsletter, headteacher Cathy Styles said these are ‘very difficult times for education’.

She said: “Any action taken is not being undertaken lightly and the current dispute is not just about pay. Along with other public sector organisations, the education system is in crisis.

“We have experienced a sustained lack of funding for over 10 years and a relentless reduction of services. The teaching profession is losing staff at a faster rate than it is attracting new ones. Support staff can earn more working elsewhere. Budgets in schools are in a very precarious state.

“These are very difficult times for education. The profession needs to attract the best quality teachers so we can give our children the best possible start.”

Chapel Street Infant and Nursery School in Dalton will also be shutting its doors to all classes, the school revealed.

More schools are set to announce whether they will have to close in the coming days.

Headteachers and school governing bodies are responsible for determining whether or not a school can safely open on any given day.

Staff will be on strike in a national dispute over pay as according to the union teachers have lost “23 per cent in real-terms pay since 2010, and support staff 27 per cent over the same period.”