Parents in Waltham Forest, east London, are spending up to £400 a month on private tutors as ongoing teacher strikes disrupt schooling. The industrial action, led by the National Education Union (NEU), has affected multiple schools including South Grove primary, Henry Maynard primary, South Chingford foundation school, Connaught school for girls, and Belmont Park school.
South Grove primary has been closed for several days and faces a further five-day strike next week, leaving working parents scrambling for childcare. Some parents have joined picket lines in support of teachers protesting a school restructure that will lead to job losses and reduced support for special educational needs pupils.
However, other parents have expressed frustration. One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'We support the teachers, but the strikes are costing us hundreds in tutoring and lost wages. It's unsustainable.' At Connaught school, pupils held a counter-protest demanding an end to the walkouts.
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said the disputes are driven by a 'perfect storm' of falling pupil numbers due to low birth rates and gentrification, leading to restructures and redundancies. Across London, there have been 26 disputes over such issues this academic year.
Nationally, the NEU has seen a rise in strike ballots, with 171 workplaces voting for action in 2025-26, up from 117 the previous year. Kebede warned that unless the government fully funds an above-inflation pay rise, a formal national ballot could bring schools to a standstill this autumn.
