SEVEN schools in Basingstoke and Deane are closed or partially closed today as a result of the teacher strikes.

The National Union of Teachers has organised today’s industrial action over an on-going dispute with the Government about issues regarding excessive workloads, performance related pay and unfair pension changes.

Over 60 schools in Hampshire have announced they will be closed today to some or all pupils.

Today’s industrial action is the latest in a series of strikes in the ongoing dispute that the NUT has been fighting for more than two years.

Last year, the union staged a series of walkouts joined by members of NASUWT teaching union.

But the NASUWT refused to take part in today’s action because of planned talks on the dispute with the Secretary of State.

The NUT, which has more than 327,000 members, decided to continue with the strike and said it was “a last resort for teachers.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: “Teachers deeply regret the disruption caused by this strike action to parents and teachers. The Government’s refusal, however, to engage to resolve the dispute means that we have no alternative other than to demonstrate the seriousness of our concerns.

“Teachers’ levels of workload are intolerable – the Government’s own survey, published last month, shows that primary school teachers work nearly 60 hours a week and secondary school teachers work nearly 56 hours a week.”

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