The government believes schools and colleges should remain open for three quarters of students during strikes, leaked documents show, as ministers prepare to legislate for minimum service levels.
But the Department for Education stands accused of acting in “bad faith” and deliberately “collapsing” talks with unions aimed at reaching a voluntary agreement.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan announced last month that she was seeking a voluntary agreement with unions over minimum service levels for schools and colleges. Such a policy would require education settings to remain open to some extent during industrial action.
However The Sun reported last night that Keegan would pursue a legislative route, quoting a source saying she had “tried her best” to avoid the approach.
