MORE than half the schools in Swindon will close on Thursday when 1,200 teachers in the town walk out in protest against government reforms to their pensions.

Over the weekend the number of schools that have announced they will be closed has increased dramatically and currently stands at a total of 33.

The latest added to the list include Eldene Primary School, Lainesmead Primary School and Uplands School.

Partially closed schools include Covingham Park Primary School, Lethbridge Primary School, Moredon Primary School, Mountford Manor Primary School, Rodbourne Cheney Primary School, Stratton Education Centre, Toothill Primary School and Wroughton Infant School.

In a letter to parents, joint headteachers of Eldene Primary School, Heather Kellett and Susan Joslin, said they were left with no choice but to close the school to children on Thursday.

They said: “We have now been told that about three-quarters of our teaching staff will be striking on Thursday 30 June and we therefore have no option but to close the school to children for that day.

“We do understand that this will cause difficulties for many parents.”

The school’s Junior Sports Day, which was due to be held on Thursday will now be held on July 14, but the new parents evening for parents of children starting school in September will go ahead as planned.

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: “Some schools that have decided to close may not be listed as they may not have advised us of their intentions yet.

“For further details in respect of schools that are partially closed, or if you are unsure as to what is happening at your child's school, we strongly recommend you contact the school direct.”

Teachers from the National Union of Teachers and Association of Teachers and Lecturers voted in a ballot to take strike action in protest over government plans to change their pensions.

These schools have advised Swindon Council that they will be closed, or partially closed, due to strike action on Thursday, June 30: Brimble Hill School Colebrook Infant School Colebrook Junior School Commonweal School Covingham Park Primary School (partially closed) Crowdys Hill School Eastrop Infant School Eldene Primary School Even Swindon Primary School Ferndale Primary School Grange Junior School Greendown School Haydon Wick Primary School Isambard School King William Primary School Kingsdown School Lainesmead Primary School Lethbridge Primary School (partially closed) Moredon Primary School (partially closed) Mountford Manor Primary School (partially closed) Nova Hreod School Nyland School Nythe Primary School Oaktree Primary School Red Oaks Primary School Riverside Centre (partially closed) Rodbourne Cheney Primary School (partially closed) South Marston Primary School Southfield Junior School Stratton Education Centre (partially closed) Toothill Primary School (partially closed) Uplands School Wroughton Infant School (partially closed) For an up-to-date list of all closures, parents are advised to check www.swindon.gov.uk.