All five Braintree and Witham secondary schools are affected by today's teachers' strike.

Alec Hunter Academy is closed to Year 9 pupils and other year groups are facing disruption to lessons today after as many as 12 members of staff went on strike.


A statement on the school’s website reads: “We have considered very carefully the implications of different options, and have decided that our preferred alternative is to request that Year 9 students do not come to school.

“This is due to the fact that there are more Year 9 lessons affected by the absence of those striking than any other year group, along with the fact that we would always wish to prioritise provision for our older students, whose GCSE exams are just around the corner.”

The statement concludes: “May I stress once again how much we regret the inconvenience that this situation may cause to families in our community and we remain hopeful that the issues which have prompted this action will be resolved as soon as possible.”

Notley High School and Braintree College is open but asked Years 7 and 8 not to attend in a similar statement on its website.

Tabor Academy has tweeted that it is closed to Years 7 - 10 with some Year 11 pupils attending school for revision.

New Rickstones Academy in Witham is closed to Years 8 and 9, but open to 7, 10, 11 and 12.

Maltings Academy headteacher John Syznal posted the following statement on the school’s website: “It is with regret that I have to inform you of the proposed strike action by members of the NUT.
“For health and safety reasons I have decided to partially close Maltings Academy.
“This will mean that only those students in Years 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 will be required to attend.
“I will expect these students to attend normal lessons but, if their usual teacher is one of those taking action, then they will be supervised in the restaurant and library where they can take part in private study of their own.
“Thank you for your continued support.”

The National Union of Teachers has called on its members to strike over changes to the pay, pensions and conditions of service.