Schools across south and west Essex were closed today as a bitter pay dispute deepened between teachers and education bosses.

No school today - Fairhouse Infants in Basildon was one of many schools affected by the strike. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 87JX73

Thousands of parents in the area were making desperate contingency plans as a result of the 24-hour industrial action.

Schools across the Brentwood area were also set for major disruption today.

An estimated 200 schools throughout west Essex were expected to be affected by the industrial action.

The NUT hopes the strike action will place pressure on the Government to increase allowances for teachers working in and around London.

Complete or partial closures were expected at four Brentwood secondary schools - Brentwood High, St Martin's, Hedley Walter and Shenfield.

The decision to strike was left up to NUT members at each school and many primary schools were hoping to remain unaffected by the action.

Meanwhile, as classrooms stood empty, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) laid into officers at County Hall for recommending a "divisive" and "unfair" pay deduction for striking staff.

The NUT said heads were being asked to dock 1/195th of a teacher's annual salary, compared with previous levels of 1/365th.

Phil Roberts, personnel service manager at Essex County Council, said: "The National Employers' Organisation have extorted us to 'maintain the line' (on pay deductions) and we have done so, despite the protestations of the NUT."

Schools in south Essex confirmed as closed today include Billericay School, Bromfords, Wickford, James Hornsby High, Laindon, Mayflower High, Billericay and Shenfield High School.

Chalvedon School, Basildon is 20 per cent open while De La Salle, Basildon, is 40 per cent open.

More in today's Evening Echo and Brentwood Gazette

Published Thursday, March 14, 2002