MORE than 20 Forest schools will be affected by strike action by teachers tomorrow (Thursday).

Eleven schools will be closed to all pupils and there will be partial closures at a further 11 as a result of action by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of School Masters and Union of Women's Teachers (NASUWT). Over 5,000 teachers will take the one day action across the county.

They are striking over changes to their pay conditions, and plans to lengthen the school day, and year, working until they are 69, and over an escalating row about changes to their pensions.

Parents have expressed their anger over the disruption, and the work they have to do addressing the logistical problems of finding childminders and reorganising their transport arrangements.

A mother from Coalway, who did not wish to be named, told the Review of her woes, as she has one child at a local primary school, which is open, and another at Lakers, which is closed.

She said: "It's hard to juggle everything, as I have to take a day's annual leave to be home to look after my daughter. The strike also has hit the after school activities, as they suffer a knock-on effect from not having supervisors."

But she added: "I have to say I fully support the teachers in their action. Something had to be done to stop the horrible things that Michael Gove is doing to our education system – and particularly teachers. They deserve better treatment than this, and the matter of their pensions is just shameful. I hope the government will listen to them, because their grievances are valid, but their actions will also affect hundreds of thousands of parents too."

John Pemberthy, of Lydney, and also the Gloucestershire Divisional Secretary and National Executive Member of the National Union of Teachers said: "We anticipate that the vast majority of schools in the Forest area and across Gloucestershire will be closed on Thursday and, although we regret and disruption to parents and pupils we believe that the effects of current policies being ideologically driven by Michael Gove are doing considerable harm to the profession, to schools' ability to recruit and retain teachers, and to the education service in general."

He added: "Strike action is never a step that teachers take lightly and we are very aware and concerned about the inconvenience it causes parents. Unfortunately we are faced with a Coalition Government that is refusing to listen to the reasonable demands of the profession.

"The Education Secretary should do as his counterparts in Wales have done and enter into meaningful dialogue with the NUT and the NASUWT. We have suspended our strike action there pending further talks, and we would be prepared to do so in England."

•Tutshill C of E School was closed for a time on Tuesday morning due to power cuts in the area. The school reopened at lunchtime after Western Power identified and repaired the problem.

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The Review guide to school closures.

Below is a list of the school and academy closures due to take place across our area on Thursday. The industrial action is not taking place in the Midlands region, so there will be no strike in Herefordshire. Wales is strike-free too, after the Welsh Assembly agreed to talks with teachers' unions.

Fully Closed

Bream C of E Primary School.

Drybrook School (Drybrook Ducklings pre-school open).

Lakers School.

Littledean C of E Primary.

Lydney C of E Community School.

Offa's Mead Primary Academy.

St Briavels Parochial C of E Primary School.

Tutshill C of E School.

Woodside Primary School.

Wyedean School.

Yorkley Primary School.

Partially Closed

Aylburton C of E Primary School: KS1 (Infants) open, KS2 (Juniors) closed.

Clearwell C of E Primary School: School fully closed until 12 noon. Willow Class only should attend from noon (including lunch).

Coalway Community Infant School: Classes one and four will be closed, two, three, five and six open.

Dean Academy. Years seven eight, nine and 10, closed, Year 11 open.

Forest E-act Academy: Closed for students in Years seven, eight, nine and 10. Year 11 students should arrive as usual, leaving at 1.00pm. Mini bus provision.

Heart of the Forest Community Special School.

Lydbrook Primary School: School closed, Pips Nursery open all day.

Picklenash Junior School: School open for Year four and Year six only.

Ruardean C of E Primary School. Larches and Oaks (KS2) closed. Firs Class (C&I) closed. Willows and Beeches (KS1) open.

Soudley Primary School: Class one (Years Reception and Year One) open. Class two (Years two and three) no classes in morning.

Steam Mills Primary School: KS1 closed, KS2 open.

Comprehensive county listings are available on the Gloucestershire County Council website http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk">www.gloucestershire.gov.uk