A second Isle of Wight school is pledging to do what it can to stay open, for at least some of its pupils, when members of the NEU teaching union go on strike next month.

Wednesday, February 1 is scheduled as the first day of action, with more to follow.

On the Island, Thursday, March 2, Wednesday, March 15 and Thursday, March 16 are all designated strike days, if talks cannot provide a solution.

A Cowes Enterprise College spokesperson said: "We respect our the rights of our staff to take industrial action.


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The school's spokesperson added: "If strikes do occur, we will do our utmost to keep our school open, especially for vulnerable students and children of key workers, just as we did during the pandemic.

"We also have excellent, well-rehearsed remote learning programmes in place that we are ready to use if required."

Cowes Enterprise College's comments echo those made earlier in the week, by the executive head of the Isle of Wight Education Federation, which runs Medina and Carisbrooke Colleges.

Matthew Parr-Burman told the County Press he backs the right to strike and said a government-promised five per cent pay rise for teachers had not been funded - leaving schools with a big hole in their budgets.

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The Isle of Wight County Press wants to hear from you

Are you making childcare plans for the teaching strike days? What do you think about teachers taking action?


Mr Parr-Burman said: "We will put students front and centre and do our best not to close our schools on strike days.

"That said, the situation is fluid and with the union due to meet Education Secretary Gillian Keegan next week, there is still hope the action can be avoided."

We have also asked for comments from Christ the King College and Ryde Academy.