THOUSANDS of children are set to miss school tomorrow as their teachers go on strike.
Most schools and academies across the city and county are set to be closed or part closed because of the national action organised by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
The union is protesting about teacher pensions, workload and pay.
With teachers not obliged to let bosses know whether they intend to strike in advance, head teachers have been left scratching their heads over whether to close or not.
At many schools, only students who have GCSE or A-level exams coming up are having special arrangements put in place to avoid disruption.
Arnold Hill Academy is one such secondary to be making arrangements. It will only be open for students in Years 11, 12 and 13.
Principal Robin Fugill said he had made the decision based on the number of staff who are members of the NUT.
In a letter to parents, he said: "There is no requirement on unions to inform us of which members of staff will take action and as membership to these unions is significant, it will be necessary for the academy to be closed to students other than Years 11, 12 and 13.
"In these circumstances, my first concern has to be safety and consequently students should not attend school on that day because I cannot guarantee there will be sufficient staff to cover classes or undertake general supervision."
Ellis Guilford School in Basford will be open for students in Years 10 and 11. Supervision arrangements are being made for younger students who cannot remain at home.
Head teacher Sally Coulton said: "It is always very difficult to balance the needs of the students and parents with the right of teachers to take industrial action.
"The first thing that must be considered is health and safety and whether or not we have enough supervision for students. There are limits on the use of other staff to supervise; for example, teaching staff who are not striking are not allowed to cover the classes of those on strike.
"We recognise that industrial action is inconvenient for parents and have tried to put together the best programme we can, particularly with Year 11 preparing for their GCSEs."
Tomorrow's strike action follows industrial action across the country over the same issues late last year.
The largest teaching union, the NASUWT, opted not to get involved.
Striking teachers are set to march from the Forest Recreation Ground at 10am to Old Market Square, where a rally will be held at 11am.
Sheena Wheatley, from the Nottingham branch of the NUT, said: "Striking is the last resort for teachers but [Education Secretary] Michael Gove continues to refuse to talk to us.
"Last week he made headlines in the local press saying that there is a "toxic lack of ambition" in our schools, but the poison comes from the policies."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and those talks will begin shortly.
"Despite this constructive engagement with their concerns, the NUT is nevertheless taking strike action that will disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession."
Parent Rob Sutton, who has two children in city schools, said: "I can see the point of view of the teachers but I'm not sure the strike action is the right way to go about it. It is causing a huge disruption."
What do you think of the strikes? E-mail marcus.boocock@nottinghampost.com
