A number of schools closed this morning in the St Albans district due a national teachers’ strike sparked by disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions.

Fleetville Infant and Nursery and JM is the only school to announce it has fully closed today.

Herts County council are advising parents to check their website to stay updated with the latest closures.

Chris Hayward, cabinet member for enterprise, education and skills, said: “While we recognise that there are strongly held feelings on both sides of this national dispute, strike action in a key public service like this can only be to the detriment of Hertfordshire’s children and their parents.

“We hope that there is a speedy resolution to this dispute in the interests of all concerned. The decision to stay open or to close is for individual school headteachers and governors to make.

“We have urged as many schools as possible to remain open as long as it is safe to do so, but we do not have any authority to compel them to stay open, whether they are community schools, free schools or academies.

“If school leaders decide to close their doors, we have advised them to inform parents and carers as soon as possible in advance, so that they can make alternative arrangements for their children.”

To check the closures visit https://www.imodus.com/summary.aspx?company=99

Closed schools:

Fleetville Infant and Nursery and JM

Partially closed schools:

Aboyne Lodge Primary

Beaumont

Heathlands

Maple Primary

Margaret Wix Primary

Roundwood Primary

Sir John Lawes

Beech Hyde Primary

Bowmansgreen Primary

Heathlands School

St Albans Girls