THOUSANDS of York children will be off school as 27 city schools close during a national day of strike action next Wednesday.

City of York Council has revealed a provisional list of closures, which will affect about 7,750 pupils.

The action taken by teachers is part of a strike by public sector workers which is expected to cause widespread disruption to council services, courts, hospitals, leisure centres, libraries and job centres.

Heather McKenzie, York Unison branch secretary, said almost 3,000 council staff – about 40 per cent – were expected to walk out in a dispute over pensions.

Nick Seaton, secretary of the York-based parent group the Campaign For Real Education, criticised teachers for taking strike action.

But teachers’ unions said they felt unfairly penalised by the Government.

Teacher Phil Armstrong, an NUT member of 30 years, said: “The Government is saying to teachers ‘you have to pay more towards your pensions, work longer and get less out in the end’, and that’s not a good deal in my view.

“No teacher at all wants to go on strike. Teaching is a vocation – we do it because we believe it’s important to teach children. We are going on strike out of desperation and because we feel our case is justified.”

A spokesman for City of York Council said negotiations were continuing with the unions and it would not be possible to give precise details of the other council-run services affected until talks were completed.

North Yorkshire County Council said it would be unable to give details of school closures until Monday.

Mr Seaton said: “This is going to be awkward for parents who will need to make special arrangements for someone to look after their children and I think most parents will think the strike is pretty unjustified.

“We are living in times that are financially difficult and teachers aren’t doing too badly out of the reforms – to strike will only hurt the children, really.”

At York College, a spokesperson said it would be business as ususal, but there may be restrictions to some lessons. The York College Construction Centre at Osbaldwick, the York College Nursery and the college’s Yorkshire Rail Academy would be open as normal.

John Mackfall, Unison branch secretary for North Yorkshire Police, who represents civilian staff, said his members would picket Fulford Road police station from 7am and expected “the majority” of police civilian staff to be on strike and joining other striking workers in a march through the city centre.

North Yorkshire Police temporary Assistant Chief Constable Iain Spittal said necessary contingency arrangements were in place to ensure core services were maintained and members of the public would experience a “business as usual” service as far as possible, with emergency 999 calls being dealt with as normal.

York schools expected to close are:

Acomb Primary School; Archbishop of York’s CE Junior School; Copmanthorpe Primary (but Year 6 residential trip will go ahead);Clifton Green Primary School; Elvington CE Primary School; Fishergate Primary School; Hob Moor Oaks and Hob Moor Primary School; Knavesmire Primary School; Lord Deramore’s Primary School; Osbaldwick Primary School; Naburn Primary School; Park Grove Primary School; Poppleton Road Primary School; Scarcroft Primary School; Skelton Primary School; St Georges RC VA Primary School; St Oswald’s CE Primary School; St Paul’s CE Primary School; St Paul’s Nursery; Stockton on the Forest Primary School; Tang Hall Primary School; Wheldrake with Thorganby CE Primary School; Burnholme Community College; Canon Lee School; Danesgate Community; Millthorpe School; The Joseph Rowntree School

Schools expected to be open are:

Burton Green Primary School; Carr Infant School (nursery closed); Headlands Primary School; Ralph Butterfield Primary School; St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School.

Schools planning a partial opening so far with parents to be advised of specific details include:

Badger Hill Primary School (open for Year 2); Carr Junior School (open for Year 4); Danesgate Community; Derwent Schools (open for Key Stage 1 only); Heworth CE Primary School (closed for class 1 and class 4, open for classes 2,3 and 5); Lakeside Primary (1 class closed in Year 2); Poppleton Ousebank Primary School (open for reception, Years 1 and 2) (The nursery and Years 3-6 will be closed); Rufforth Primary School (Open for Key Stage 2 only); Westfield Primary Community School (6 classes closed - final details to be confirmed); Woodthorpe Primary School (7 classes open 6 classes closed); Wigginton Primary (Class R and Class 45J open all day. Classes 1D and 34PR open for the morning only, Classes 6B and 56Br open for the afternoon only); Fulford School (Year 11 open only) and York High School (details to be confirmed).