Sports and other activities may suffer at some second-level schools that have managed to remain open amid industrial action by teachers.

The likelihood of prolonged closures at hundreds of second-level schools is increased by the difficulty facing schools training anyone hired to supervise students during next month’s industrial action by teachers.

Students will suffer untold damage unless junior cycle reform proposals are put into action, says the head of a body representing almost 100 second-level schools.

Moves to improve job security for teachers could end up limiting second-level students’ subject choices, a school management leader has warned.

All three groups representing second-level schools say they support delays to some assessment by teachers of their junior cycle students — to help resolve an ongoing dispute.