Schools across Suffolk will be closing this week due to planned teacher strike action. 

Teachers part of the National Education Union (NEU) are expected to walk out on Wednesday over a dispute about pay. 

Last week, a teachers' union representative in Suffolk warned of disruption as a result of the strikes. 

Headteacher at County Upper School Sally Kennedy said the Bury St Edmunds school will remain open to only Year 11 pupils.

She said: "We have undertaken a risk assessment for the school and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.  The trust and I feel it necessary to only open for students in Year 11: food will be available and buses will run as normal for this year group. 

"Please note, we are unaware of the specific numbers of teaching and support staff who may be joining picket lines on strike days, but minimising disruption to our pupils who attend the school on those days remains our priority."

In Ipswich, the headteacher at Chantry Academy, Rick Hanson, said: "At this stage, we understand that a significant number of colleagues will be taking industrial action.

"We have looked at the school timetable for February 1 to ensure we can still manage the safe supervision of students, whilst minimising the impact on learning with reduced staffing levels in place."

The list of the schools confirmed to be closing on Wednesday is as follows:

  • Chantry Academy, Ipswich (only open to Year 11 students)
  • East Bergholt High School 
  • Sybil Andrews Academy, Bury St Edmunds (only open to Year 11 students)
  • Thurston Community College 
  • St Edmund's Catholic Primary School
  • Westley and Horringer Court Middle Schools (only open to Year 6 students)
  • Abbots Hall Community Primary
  • County Upper, Bury St Edmunds (only open to Year 11 students)

More schools may announce full or partial closures in the coming days.