Thousands of teachers have gone on strike across the country today calling for better pay.

Schools in Suffolk have been forced to close partially due to the industrial action by the National Education Union.

The union voted to strike weeks ago - but members are not obliged to tell their employers if they will be participating until the day of the strikes.

It is the first of four days of planned strikes by local members of the National Education Union.

Schools partially closed:

  • Abbots Green Academy, Bury St Edmunds
  • Abbot’s Hall Community Primary School, Stowmarket
  • Bacton Primary School, Bacton, near Stowmarket
  • Chantry Academy, Ipswich
  • Claydon High School
  • East Bergholt High School 
  • Gislingham C of E Primary School, Gislingham, near Stowmarket
  • King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds
  • Mendlesham Primary School, Mendlesham, near Stowmarket
  • St Benedict's Catholic School, Bury St Edmunds
  • St Edmund's Catholic Primary School, Bury St Edmunds
  • Westley Middle School, Bury St Edmunds
  • Stowmarket High School, Stowmarket
  • Stowupland High School, Stowupland
  • Stradbroke High School
  • Thurston CE Primary Academy, Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds

Schools fully closed:

  • Breckland School, Brandon
  • Sybil Andrews Academy, Bury St Edmunds
  • Sidegate Primary School, Ipswich
  • County High School, Bury St Edmunds
  • Thurston Community College, Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds

More schools may announce full or partial closures as the day progresses.

Suffolk County Council has said to check with individual schools to check if they are closed. 

Why are teachers on strike?

Teachers in England and Wales, who are members of the National Education Union (NEU), will strike - with more than 23,000 schools expected to be affected nationally.

The Department for Education has offered a 5% pay rise to most teachers for the current school year, but the NEU is demanding a fully funded above-inflation pay rise for teachers.

This Wednesday is the first of four days of planned industrial action from the 6,500 local members of the National Education Union in a dispute over pay.