THE majority of East Lancashire’s schools will close – or open only to a small number of pupils – tomorrow as teachers go on strike.

They are set to defy Education Secretary Michael Gove’s plea not to cause ‘massive inconvenience to hard-working families’.

Blackburn and Darwen is worst hit. Out of the 73 schools, 61 are to close, 3 partially open and 8 fully open.

For Lancashire County Council schools, covering Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, and Rossendale, unions believe 60 to 70 per cent will be affected.

Officially, 25 per cent have so far informed the county council they will be closed or partially open.

However, bosses said that figure would greatly increase today when more information comes in.

The situation will have a major effect on East Lancashire industry as parents face having to take the day off to look after their children.

One business leader said there was bemusement and little sympathy in the private sector for the plight of teachers, and even claimed they were setting a bad example to pupils.

But teaching unions blamed the Government for causing a ‘great deal of anger’ over proposed pension changes to make higher contributions, work for longer and take a ‘career average’ salary rather than final salary.

The National Union of Teachers had sent a letter to every school warning of the health and safety dangers of opening with limited staffing.

In East Lancashire, only those schools with smaller union memberships will fully open - but only after a health and safety assessment over pupil to teacher ratio was carried out.

Headteacher Bob Flood has been forced to announce that Norden High School and Sports College in Rishton will be closed.

He said: “I am disappointed it has come to this because nobody wants to go out on strike.

“It has been agreed with the union members that members of other unions that are not striking cannot cover striking member’s roles.

“Teaching and learning is crucial but we have to consider the health and safety of staff and pupils.

“Teachers are frustrated about the pensions and want to know where the money they have been paying in has gone.”

Shuttleworth College, Padiham, will be partially opening.

Headteacher Martin Burgess said: “We have ensured that disruption to our kids achievement is kept to a minimum before the end of the academic year.

“We are keeping years eight and nine at home but year 10s are coming it so they can get extra GCSE tuition for next year.

"We have done everything we can.”

Schools which were fully open were reluctant to comment.

Headteacher Alistair Coates of St Christopher’s CofE High School, Accrington, which will be open, said: “There will be some staff off.

"Thursday is our sports day so it will not be a usual school day.”

Bosses at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School, Blackburn, said they could open as usual as only two of its members were on strike and because class sizes are small they were able to manage.

Teachers told of their reasons for striking.

Ken Cridland, Lancashire NUT Secretary said: “We did not cause the crisis and we should not have to pay for it with what amounts to a tax on our pensions.”

Rossendale teacher Geoff Blow said he and his colleagues were very angry, adding: “Just at the time they need most financial security, these teachers will find themselves poorer and poorer and may opt out of the pension scheme altogether."

Hyndburn and Ribble Valley teacher Bob Allonby said: ”Under what the Government is trying to do to our pension, not only will teachers suffer, it will have a knock-on effect and damage education.”

The Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce has criticised the teachers.

Mike Damms said there would be a big effect on industry as parents weigh up whether to take the day off or make alternative arrangements.

He said: “There is a degree of bemusement in the business community and I am not sure how sympathetic they are to the plight of those in the public sector.

“These strikes will cause a lot of disruption, the full extent of which is only now becoming clear.

"There is also a feeling that the strikes will set a very bad example to the children.

“At a time when parents are told not to take pupils out of school for holidays or other days off we have teachers saying that to make a point they will not take lessons.”

Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones said he ‘feels sorry for parents’ as the strikes will cause ‘chaos’.

He said: “The strike has got to be the absolute last resort. The government has pushed the teachers to this position.

“I feel sorry for the parents that the strike is going ahead. There are so many schools closing that it will affect almost every family in East Lancashire.”

Childminding services are set for a busy day.

Carol McCaffrey, who runs a childminding service in Jubilee Street, Accrington, said there was a lot of uncertainty about what was to happen.

She said: “I know that some parents are just taking the day off while I may have to look after other children for longer because they are not in school.

“Normally my service is before and after-school care but I am now having to plan for that to change.

"We are waiting to see what happens.”

In addition to schools, all East Lancashire’s colleges and universities are closing.

Job centres, magistrates and HM Revenue and Customs sites will be hit.

Councils are not affected.

Click on the link below for the full list of schools set to close due to strike action.