More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Several schools across Kent are closed today as workers take part in a strike organised by the National Union of Teachers.
Members of the union have walked out over school funding and contracts, arguing that cuts could affect class sizes, subject choices and staffing.
Kent County Council confirmed that eight out of 379 local authority schools will be closed, and 21 are partially shut. However, these figures do not include academies and free schools.
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VIDEO: Thousands of Kent children were off school today due to the strikes.
Over 200 teachers, parents and members of the public turned out at Westgate Hall in Canterbury to rally and march against the issues.
Badges, flags and homemade banners were out in full force as members of the Union marched through the city streets.
Speaking at the Rally, Cllr Claire Jeffrey said: "What I would like to say to you as a parent, as a governor, as an elected representative... I'm proud to stand with you all today."
A spokesman for the Department for Education said it would not be clear until around lunchtime which academy schools were closed or partly shut.
The closed schools in Kent are Staplehurst School, Westmeads Community Infant School, Whitstable Junior School, St Mildred's Primary Infant School, St John's Church of England in Sevenoaks, St John's Catholic Comprehensive, St Anthony's School and Laleham Gap School.
Kent's largest school, Homewood in Tenterden, is shut. The academy has more than 2,500 students and 250-plus staff.
An announcement today said a performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the school has been postponed until next Monday.
However, these numbers could increase as some schools may not yet know as teachers don’t have to inform them of plans to strike.
Parents are advised to check their school's website and we will also update this list as more closures come in.
Medway Council reports that three schools are closed out of 32 local authority-controlled schools, with a further five partly open.
Those closed are Luton Junior School, Maundene School and St Helen's CofE Primary School in Cliffe.
Greenvale Infant School, Barnsole Primary School, Swingate Primary School, St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School are partly open. Strood Academy reports it is open for years 7 and 8 and the sixth form.
A total of 20 Kent schools are also partially closed. The list so far is:
Maypole Primary, Sheers Green Infant, Paddock Wood Primary, Dunton Green Primary, Otford Primary, Murston Junior, St Martin's, Shears Green, Riverview Junior, Capel-le-Ferne Primary, Bromstone Primary, West Hill Primary, Fawkham CoE, Laddingford St Mary's, Birchington CoE, Fordcombe CoE, Deal Parochial CoE, Maidstone Grammar, Bower Grove, Rowhill.
In Shepway, Brockhill Park Performing Arts College in Saltwood, Hythe, has shut today due to the "safety of pupils".
A statement released by principal Sonette Schwartz said: "There is no requirement on unions to inform us which members of staff will take action, and it may be that they will not know themselves as there is no obligation on members of unions to obey a strike call.
"Neither the governing body nor I am legally allowed to close the school ‘in sympathy’ with the strike and we will not do so.?
"However, our main concern is the safety of our students."
"The Folkestone Academy in Academy Lane, Folkestone, is open, but is running an alternative timetable, according to Warren Smith, the principal.
Mr Smith said: "There are a number of colleagues that have taken strike action.
"But we are running an alternative timetable which involves house activities and English curriculum work."
The Folkestone School for Girls in Coolinge Lane, Sandgate, is open as usual.
Christine Dickinson, secretary of the Kent Division of the National Union of Teachers said: "We feel that the government have not been putting sufficient funding into education for it to survive in the present environment.
"There has been a freeze on the funding which has meant of course that there are real term cuts and we are suffering redundancies, a narrow curriculum, loss of teaching assistants in all the schools throughout Kent as a result.
"We hope to be listened to."
Christine acknowledged parents' frustration about the strike, adding: "It's not easy to have your children off school when you're not expecting it.
"However, we do firmly and strongly believe that this is much more important and the issue is actually about their children and if we can't get an increase in funding, what will happen to their children's futures in schools?"
91.7% of members of the National Union of Teachers voted in favour of strike action in a ballot last month, with a 24.5% turnout.
If your child is off school today and you're stumped for ideas, take a look at our list of activities to get involved with:
There's birds of prey, play areas and a maze to tackle at Leeds Castle, Maidstone. Open from 10.30am to 4.30pm, you can also explore the 500 acres of picturesque parkland or head into the castle to see why it's the "loveliest castle in the world". Visitleeds-castle.comfor details. One ticket lasts a whole year.
Jump on down to the newest trampolining park in the county, Soar in Courteney Road, Gillingham, has just opened, while Gravity in Lockmeadow, Maidstone opened in the autumn. For Soar visitsoartrampolinepark.co.ukand for Gravity go togravity-uk.com
