More schools have announced full and partial closures ahead of tomorrow’s pensions strike by teachers – as politicians criticise the contingency arrangements of Hertfordshire County Council.

Members of the NUT and ATL unions will walk out in the morning, leaving many headteachers with no choice but to close their schools.

Schools that will close completely are: Queens’ School, Garston Manor, Bushey Academy, Francis Combe, Maple Cross JMI, Harvey Road (Croxley Green), Watford Field, Bushey Meads, the Russell School and Hertsmere Jewish Primary.

Schools to announce partial closures are Leavesden Green, St John’s, Meriden, Kingsway Infants and junior, Nascot Wood infants, Divine Saviour, Malvern Way Infants, Parkgate Junior, Field Junior and Chater Infants.

The opposition Liberal Democrat group at County Hall has criticised the Conservative controlled council for failing to keep parents informed through the council’s website.

Group leader Councillor Chris White said: “There seem to be no plans to put school closures on the county's website. Parents with work responsibilities will thus have little idea when they drop their children at school whether the school is open and whether they might need to leave work in order to pick them up. This is unacceptable to them and unacceptable to their employers.

“County must set up a proper webpage immediately and check it is fully up to date.”

The council, however, has explained that parents should contact their children’s schools directly as any public list is liable to last minute changes by headteachers – meaning parents could end up dropping their children at closed and empty schools.

Other institutions affected will include Watford Magistrates’ Court and the Job Centre, in Exchange Road. PCS Union members from both will join the strikes but are not expected to force closures.

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