SEVERAL Basingstoke schools have announced partial closures ahead of a teachers' strike tomorrow.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has organised the walk out over changes to school funding, pay and working conditions.

Teachers will form picket lines outside schools after members of the NUT voted by more than 9-1 in favour of industrial action.

In Basingstoke, Brighton Hill Community School has announced it will partially closed to Year 7 and 8 students.

Jane Halsey, deputy headteacher, said in a letter to parents: "The decision has been made to ensure the safety of all students."

She added: "We must all hope that the issues over which the industrial action has arisen are resolved as soon as possible and I thank you for your support on this matter."

At Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, in Wessex Close, Year 9 and 10 students have been asked to stay at home tomorrow.

It is expected that more schools will announce closures or partial closures later today.

Any school closures in the borough will be added to the list below as they are announced.

In a letter to education secretary Nicky Morgan, the union called for "meaningful" discussions to tackle issues it said were negatively affecting education.

Acting general secretary Kevin Courtney said: "No teacher finds taking strike action easy but the situation in our schools needs to be urgently addressed.

"School budgets are being cut to the bone. The effect on children's education is clear.

"Class sizes are going up, subjects are being removed from the curriculum, especially in the arts, while teaching posts are being cut or not replaced.

"Teachers' terms and conditions are being deregulated and worsened through the academy programme.

"Headteachers are spending time on school negotiations which should be spent on education.

"This is unnecessary, time wasting and ineffective.

"There is no evidence it leads to better results in schools and is fuelling the teacher retention and recruitment crisis."

An spokesman from the Department for Education said: "We are already in regular and constructive talks with the National Union of Teachers on pay and conditions.

"It is disappointing that they have chosen to continue with this unnecessary and damaging strike, which less than a quarter of its members voted for, despite our ongoing commitment to formal talks addressing their concerns.

"Industrial action causes disruption to children's education, to their parents who have to take time out of work to arrange childcare and also damages the reputation of the profession.

"We urge the NUT again not to proceed with this action and to work with us to resolve their dispute at the negotiating table instead of playing politics with children's futures."

List of school closures in Basingstoke and Deane

Brighton Hill Community School - closed to Year 7 and 8

Cranbourne Business Enterprise College - closed to Year 9 and 10