Strike to paralyse Winchester and Eastleigh schools (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Strike to paralyse Winchester and Eastleigh schools

9:30am Wednesday 29th June 2011 in Eastleigh By Rachel Masker

THOUSANDS of pupils across Hampshire will tomorrow miss a day of school as teachers strike in a bitter row over pensions.

Secondary schools in the Winchester and Eastleigh areas appear to be worse hit than primary schools with most partially or completely closed in a nationwide day of protest.

The Henry Beaufort expect to shut while Perins in Alresford and Thornden in Chandler’s Ford plan to open only for the youngest pupils in years seven and eight.

The Westgate is open, although it’s activities week so there are no formal lessons, while Kings’ is closed for a pre-planned teacher training day which coincided with the industrial action which could involve up to 750,000 public sector workers.

Colleges and universities are also expected to be affected by the strike action.

At Peter Symonds, around 75 per cent of teachers were set to strike, for the first time since 1987. Nigel Fox, representative for the National Union of Teachers, said: “Support for the strike is very strong. This issue has united teachers in anger. We expect a large number of schools to be closed.”

For full story see tomorrow's Hampshire Chronicle.