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A majority of schools in Caerphilly County Borough closed today as a result of the teacher strike.
Wednesday February 1 was the first day of industrial action out of a total of four planned by members of the National Education Union – the largest education union in the UK.
Further strikes are expected on Tuesday February 14, Wednesday March 15, and Thursday March 16.
The dispute centres around pay for teachers and support staff.
Teachers want an above-inflation rise of about 12%. The Welsh Government has said it cannot afford this and has offered 5%. Talks between ministers and the union broke down last week.
Speaking in September last year about the prospect of strike action, David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “No one wants to take strike action, but education staff can no longer accept year after year of below inflation pay increases which have had a major impact on the value of their pay. There are significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining education staff that are exacerbated by issues relating to pay.
“In 2020/21, 29% of teachers leaving the profession were in their first five years of teaching. Welsh Government needs to act decisively if we are to attract and keep staff that will deliver the standard of education Wales aspires to.
“We urge the Minister to take this matter seriously and to act urgently. Failure to do so will ensure that we have an understaffed education system that will fail children and young people. It is in the hands of the Minister and the employers, and we hope for a swift resolution.”
The National Association of Headteachers in Wales, which mainly represents primary school heads, also started industrial action on February 1. Instead of striking, school leaders will undertake restricted duties.
Speaking at the Wales TUC Right to Strike rally in central Cardiff NAHT Cymru Director Laura Doel said: “Today is the first time in NAHT’s 125-year history that we commence national industrial action in Wales on pay and funding. For too long leaders and teachers have been blighted by continued below inflation pay awards that has seen their pay eroded by over 22% in the last ten years alone.
“Our members are taking a stand from today to protect education; to restore pay to help combat the recruitment and retention crisis; to address the workload burdens that are crippling the education system and give leaders and teachers the time and the tools they need to be able to concentrate of what is important – educating our children and young people.
“The good, honest, decent, hard-working workers of Wales will not sit back and do nothing while a UK Government continues to strike at the heart of their rights with their anti-trade union legislation. We have a proud history of rising up against oppression and we will do it again.”
Schools closures in Caerphilly County Borough brought about by strike action
| School | Comments |
| Aberbargoed Primary | Closed |
| Abercarn Primary | Closed |
| Bedwas Inf | Partial – one class open |
| Bedwas Jnr | Partial – one class open |
| Blackwood Primary | Closed |
| Bryn Awel Primary | Closed |
| Bryn Primary | Closed |
| Cefn Fforest Primary | Closed |
| Coed y Brain Primary | Partial – two classes open. |
| Crumlin High Level | Closed |
| Cwmaber Inf | Closed |
| Cwmaber Jnr | Closed |
| Cwmcarn Primary | Closed |
| Cwmfelinfach Primary | Closed |
| Cwm Glas Inf | Closed |
| Cwm Ifor Primary | Closed |
| Cwrt Rawlin Primary | Closed |
| Deri Primary | Closed |
| Derwendeg Primary | Closed |
| Fleur de Lys Primary | Open |
| Fochriw Primary | Closed |
| Gilfach Fargoed Primary | Closed |
| Glyngaer Primary | Closed |
| Graig y Rhacca Primary | Partial – open to five out of seven classes. |
| Greenhill Primary | Closed |
| Hendre Inf | Closed |
| Hendre Jnr | Closed |
| Hendredenny Primary | Open |
| Hengoed Primary | Closed |
| Libanus Primary | Closed |
| Llancaeach Jnr | Closed |
| Llanfabon Inf | Closed |
| Machen Primary | Partial – three classes open (two for half a day and one class fully open) |
| Maesycwmmer Primary | Open |
| Markham Primary | Closed |
| Nant y Parc Primary | Closed |
| Pantside Primary | Partial – one class closed |
| Park Primary | Closed |
| Pengam Primary | Open |
| Penllwyn Primary | Closed |
| Pentwynmawr Primary | Open |
| Phillipstown Primary | Closed |
| Plasyfelin Primary | Closed. Flying start open. |
| Pontllanfraith Primary | Closed |
| Rhiw Syr Dafydd Primary | Closed |
| Rhydri Primary | Closed |
| Risca Primary | Closed |
| St. Gwladys Primary | Closed |
| St. James Primary | Partial – Four classes open and another two for half a day each. |
| The Twyn Primary | Closed |
| Tiryberth Primary | Closed |
| Trinant Primary | Closed |
| Trinity Fields | Closed |
| Ty Isaf Primary | Closed |
| Tynewydd Primary | Closed |
| Ty Sign Primary | Closed. . |
| Tyn-y-wern Primary | Partially – two classes open. |
| Upper Rhymney Primary | Closed |
| Waunfawr Primary | Closed |
| Whiterose Primary | Closed |
| Ynysddu Primary | Closed |
| Ystrad Mynach Primary | Closed |
| Ysgol Bro Sannan | Partial – one class open. |
| Ysgol G G Caerffili | Partial – five classes closed |
| Ysgol G Cwm Gwyddon | Open |
| Ysgol Gymraeg Trelyn | Closed |
| Ysgol Ifor Bach | Closed. |
| Ysgol GGilfach Fargoed | Partial – three classes open. |
| Ysgol Y Castell | Partial – five classes closed / 12 classes open. |
| Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Allta | Partial – four classes closed. Seven open. |
| Ysgol Y Lawnt | Closed |
| Ysgol Penalltau | Partial. 2 classes closed and 2 classes partially closed All other classes open. |
| Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen | Closed |
| St. Helens R C | Partial – all classes closed except for nursery morning session. |
| Idris Davies School (3-18) | Closed |
| Bedwas High | Closed |
| Blackwood Comprehensive | Closed |
| Heolddu Comprehensive | Closed |
| Islwyn High | Closed |
| Lewis School Pengam | Closed |
| Lewis Girls Comprehensive | Closed |
| Newbridge School | Closed |
| Risca Community Comprehensive | Closed |
| St. Cenydd School | Very tentative – closed to Y7-Y10, open to Y11 and 6th form |
| St. Martins Comprehensive | Open |
| Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni Gelli Haf and Y Gwyndy | Open for Years 12 and 13 only. |
| Glan y Nant – The Learning Centre (Pupil Referral Unit) | Open |
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