A SCHOOL was forced to close yesterday after 35 teachers went on strike over a long-running pay dispute.

The NASUWT members at Aylestone High School, in Broadlands Lane, Hereford, took the action after claiming the school's headteacher, Anthony Ray, had refused to properly assess its staff for higher pay.

Brian Oakley, Hereford and Worcester's National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers spokesman, said the situation was regrettable but necessary.

"An agreement was reached last week, which would have seen the industrial action avoided," he said.

"However, Mr Wray, declined to act in accordance with that agreement and therefore industrial action will go ahead.

Strike

"As far as we know, Mr Wray is the only headteacher in the country who has not yet carried out his statutory duties. If this issue is not resolved quickly, there will be another one-day strike in the near future."

Problems arose Mr Wray, who retires at the end of this school year, said he would announce pay increases after - not before - half-term.

And Mr Oakley warned the National Union of Teachers (NUT) was also preparing to strike over the matter.

However, Herefordshire Council's director of education, Dr Eddie Oram, stressed the action was pointless.

"The headteacher has already indicated he is assessing the relevant staf," he said.

"He will then decide, as the unions have requested, which teachers have achieved the performance required to progress up the pay scale. There is, therefore, no reason for the strike.

"The issue is one of timing and, in that, Mr Wray has our full support."