TEACHERS in Thurrock are manning picket lines tomorrow in a one-day walkout over pay and working conditions.
The strike is being called after 91.7 per cent of National Union of Teachers members voted for strike action with feelings were running high over workload, pensions and predicted eight per cent cuts to school funding, which could lead to bigger class sizes.
Key decisions on pay and conditions could be soon made at school level.
In a letter written to education secretary Nicky Morgan, the union highlighted reasons for striking and made a “last appeal” before industrial action is taken.
Teachers said they have seen a 15 per cent fall in the value of their pay.
Jerry Glazier, general secretary of Essex NUT said: “Growing inadequate levels of funding, are having a negative effect on both children and teachers that cannot go unaddressed. Schools are facing the worst funding cuts since the 1970s.
“This is impacting heavily on the decisions head teachers in Essex have to make.”
The Gazette was given a full list of school closures by the council, which are below, and has been notified of three complete school closures – Belmont Castle Academy, West Thurrock Primary Academy and Grays Convent High School.
A spokesman for Grays Convent said: "Due to planned industrial action by the National Union of Teachers, the school will not be able to open on Tuesday 5th July 2016. Students are expected to return to school at 8:25am on Wednesday 6th July as usual."
The following schools/academies will be partly open:
Abbots Hall Primary
Arthur Bugler Primary
Benyon Primary
Bonnygate Primary
Gateway Academy
Lansdowne Primary
Kenningtons Primary
Little Thurrock Primary
Ormiston Park Academy
St Clere’s School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary
St Thomas of Canterbury
Stanford-le-Hope Primary
Thameside Primary
Tudor Court Primary
William Edwards School
The following schools/academies have stated they will be open as usual:
Beacon Hill Academy
Bulphan Church of England Primary
Chadwell St Mary Primary
Corringham Primary
Deneholm Primary
Dilkes Academy
East Tilbury Primary
Gable Hall School
Giffards Primary
Graham James Primary
Harris Academy Chafford Hundred
Harris Primary Academy
Harris Primary Mayflower
Hassenbrook Academy
Herringham Primary Academy
Holy Cross Primary
Horndon on the Hill C of E Primary
Olive Academy
Orsett Church of England Primary
Purfleet Primary
Quarry Hill Academy
Shaw Primary Academy
Somers Heath Primary
Stifford Clays Primary
St Mary’s Primary
The Gateway Primary Free School
The Hathaway Academy
The Ockendon Academy
Tilbury Pioneer Academy Treetops
Warren Primary
A council spokesperson stated that the arrangements could be subject to change,.
Parents who have not been advised by their child's school should check with the school direct.
For up-to-date information visit: thurrock.gov.uk/education
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