TEACHERS planning to strike next week are being reminded of the implications of industrial action.

Hampshire County Council has provided advice to the county’s schools ahead of the NUT (National Union of Teachers) strike on March 26.

The union’s on-going dispute with the Government is about reforms to the education sector regarding issues with excessive workloads, performance related pay and unfair pension changes.

The county council has written to all headteachers to provide them with information for staff on the implications of taking part in the strike.

Staff do not have to inform their headteacher of their intention to strike ahead of the industrial action, making it difficult for schools to predict the level of impact.

However, the council has warned that there is likely to be some disruption if union members decide to take part, and headteachers are being asked to try and find out ahead of the day whether the school will need to close or partially close, so parents and carers can make alternative arrangements.

Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for education, said: “I hope the decision of the union to ask their members to take part in a day of industrial action next week does not lead to widespread disruption to pupil’s education. This dispute is not with the county council but with the Government over changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and conditions.

“Any decisions to close schools will be for individual headteachers and their governing bodies to make. They will have to decide whether they have sufficient staff to enable them to open the school safely, and maintain a full or revised curriculum, and it may not be possible for schools to gauge the impact of the strike until the actual day.

“Staff who do strike however, will not be paid for that day in accordance with nationally set legislation. As always, the county council’s primary concern is for the education and welfare of children.”

For a list of school closures visit hants.gov.uk/schoolclosures. We will run a list on The Gazette website as soon as any Basingstoke and Deane schools are added.