HUNDREDS of students in West Somerset will lose a day of school today (Thursday) as teachers go on strike in a row over pay.

West Somerset Community College and Minehead Middle School will be closed due to strike action called by the National Union of Teachers.

Union members voted three-to-one in favour of the one-day strike to stop the cuts in real pay' of teachers.

SATs and GCSE exams are just around the corner for many students.

In a letter to parents, WSCC head teacher Nick Swann said: "On the basis of advice from the local authority I have carried out the required risk assessment concerning the supervision of students and my judgement is that staff absence resulting from the action will seriously compromise health and safety at the college."

He added: "While I apologise for the disruption to education and the inconvenience that will result, the safety of our students must be paramount."

A spokesman from Minehead Middle School said: "The strike does affect us. We have a number of teachers who will be on strike, so we will be closed for the day."

But Ian Bradbury, head teacher at Danesfield Middle School, Williton, said it would not be affected by the industrial action.

He said: "The strike will not affect us, we are staying open. All our teachers are in and I am absolutely delighted that we are open for business as usual. I am very proud that my colleagues at Danesfield are, as usual, putting the children first."

Somerset County Council said that Dulverton All Saints Primary School would be partially closed. No other schools were expected to be closed in the area.

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