A Sudbury school has been forced to close after teaching staff announced they are going on strike. 

Staff that are part of the National Education Union at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in Beaconsfield Road, Sudbury, have decided to take strike action on Tuesday, March 12.

On Friday, a letter from the chair of governors sent to parents said: "Teaching staff have, over the past few months, raised a wide range of issues and concerns.

"We have met with staff and unions on multiple occasions to try and address those concerns, including a meeting with ACAS yesterday.

"We left this meeting optimistic that a compromise had been reached but were informed this afternoon that staff still intend to proceed with the strike."

It also stated that an independent investigation has been commissioned into the issues raised by staff, which is due to start soon, and added: "It is unfortunate that staff are moving forward with strike action before this investigation has taken place." 

Dr Christopher Oldroyd, chair of governors at The Federation of St Edmund's & St Joseph's Catholic Primary Schools, said: "The school regrets the decision of the staff to go on strike and apologises for the inconvenience to families.

"We have held talks with the staff’s union representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks including on the 16th Feb and again on the 7th March with the assistance of ACAS, in an effort to avert the strike action.

"An independent investigation has been commissioned to look into the issues and concerns raised by staff and the school leadership has offered a number of ways in which to address concerns about workload.

"The school remains keen to resolve the issues of concern to the staff and their union." 

Further strike action is planned at the school for Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22.