More than half the borough’s schools completely closed

More than half the schools in Newham will be closed today as teachers take strike action over changes to their pensions.

53 nursery, primary and secondary schools will be locked while another 30 will be partially closed as some teachers choose to come in. Only a handful, six, will be running as normal.

Union leaders have predicting this year’s action will have an even bigger impact on the borough’s schools than the strike in 2008.

On that occasion, at least 1,500 of the borough’s teachers joined in the one-day walkout. It was part of national action - the first by teachers in 21 years- by the National Union of Teachers.

Some 42 primary, secondary and nursery and special schools were closed, 41 partially were shut and just eight were open. The borough had the highest percentage of closures in the country.

It meant 36,00 of the borough’s 46,000 children were forced to stay at home.

This year that figure will be even higher.