St John’s Academy in Marlborough has cancelled lessons for 13 and 14 year olds tomorrow (Tuesday) ahead of industrial action.
The National Union of Teachers has called a day of action, demanding an increase in funding to schools and education, and a resumption of negotiations on teacher contracts to allow workload to be addressed.
Fifty teachers affiliated to the union are understood to be supporting the action – just under half the teaching staff at St John’s.
In a letter to parents, principal Nicky Edmondson has written: “As I do not know which members of staff will be taking industrial action until the day itself, we cannot be entirely sure which classes will be affected.
“Therefore, for health and safety reasons, we will remain partially open for students in Years 7,8 and 12, but will have to remain closed to students in Year 9.”
Year 10 students, she added, are on the school’s summer work experience scheme, and will not be affected by the disruption.
Strike action was supported overwhelmingly by NUT members when teachers were balloted in June. 91.7 percent voted in favour of industrial action.
Kevin Courtney, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: “The NUT is not taking action lightly. In light of the huge funding cuts to schools, worsening terms and conditions, and unmanageable and exhausting workloads, teachers cannot be expected to go on without significant change.”