A headteacher has kept her school open despite the strike by inviting community leaders to take classes.
A doctor, politician and journalist were among those who helped keep the Ormiston Victory Academy in Norwich open, despite about half of the school's teachers joining the industrial action.
Other pupils were treated to a workshop with West End stars at the Open youth venue in the city.
An expected picket outside the school gates did not happen and two police community support officers stood by as children arrived as normal.
Headteacher Rachel de Souza had pledged to bring in former soldiers to run classes but it is believed the ex-servicemen pulled out at the last minute.
Among those taking classes was South Norfolk Conservative MP Richard Bacon. He said: "I am a great admirer of Rachel de Souza and all she is doing for students in the Costessey area. We cannot afford to put students' education in jeopardy, no matter how strongly some teachers may feel about the present dispute.
"Whatever the nature of the disagreement, the students in our schools have no part in it."
Mr Bacon, the son of a primary school teacher, taught English to adults in Berlin during the 1990s and said he hoped to put this experience to good use. "The unions might not like what we're doing to keep the school open, but it is something we have to do for the pupils and for parents," he added.
The school did not comment, saying it was focusing on keeping lessons running.
Other classes included a drug and alcohol workshop run by local charity the Matthew Project, a former Norwich City footballer giving a sports lesson and a personal finance workshop.