Schools across Bolton are closed or partially shut in Bolton today as teachers walk out as part of national strike action.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) join hundreds of thousands of workers who are striking on Budget Day in what threatens to be the biggest walkout since the current wave of industrial action started last year over issues including pay, jobs, pensions and conditions.

Those striking on today include teachers, university lecturers, civil servants and junior doctors.

This is the third strike by teachers, with another one set to take place tomorrow.

As a result schools in Bolton have had to close to pupils, either partially or fully.

Rivington and Blackrod High School school is shut for Year students in Years Seven, Eight and Nine.

Work will be set for students on the remote learning page on the school website.

In a letter to parents, the school states: "School will be open for all students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13.

"Years 11, 12 and 13 will follow their normal school timetable.

"Year 10 mock exams will continue as planned, students in Year 10 only will be dismissed early after their last exam and Lunch Break at 13:50.

"The school buses will not be running at this time, if you would like arrangements to be made to keep your child in school until 14:50 please click here to notify the school by Monday 13th

March.

"Attendance on both days is compulsory for Years 10, 11 and 12. Attendance is compulsory for Year 13 students on Thursday."

At Westhoughton High School the school is shut to pupils in Years Seven to 10 today and tomorrow.

In a letter to parent the school states: "Colleagues who are not striking on these days will be asked to supply work through their class teams and will be available through the Teams chat facility for the regular timing of the lesson. Where this

offer is available, class teachers will notify classes of the lesson at the start of the day. Where teachers are not available to offer remote learning students may wish to work from the knowledge organisers for their scheduled lessons (also stored on Teams) or access work through the websites."

For those who are in receipt of free school meals, a voucher covering Wednesday and Thursday will be sent to parents.

Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the National Education Union said: “We do not want to go on strike – we want to be in the classroom, teaching and supporting children and young people.

“It continues to be a regret that our members have to take strike action, but we know that parents and the public understand the gravity of the situation around school funding and teacher recruitment and retention.

“The NEU, as we have always stated, is prepared to enter talks at any point, and as and when through negotiation a reasonable offer from Government is made we will pause strike action while the offer is put to members.

“This is exactly what happened last week in Wales. Gillian Keegan (Education Secretary) needs to take a leaf out of the Welsh Government’s book, stop playing politics and get down to serious negotiation.”