Frome College will close on February 1 due to teacher strike action.

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced that this will be the first day of industrial action in the South West and a number of teachers at the College are members.

The Principal has written to parents and carers saying she has taken the "difficult " decision to close due to the high numbers of her staff in that union.

There is still no decision on the other strike days which are planned for Thursday 2nd March • Wednesday 15th March • Thursday 16th March

She wrote today (January 26): " As we have a high percentage of teachers who belong to the NEU, there is a high level of uncertainty over staffing levels on Wednesday 1st February. Therefore, I have taken the difficult decision to close the college to all year groups on Wednesday 1st February. "

The College will remain open for all vulnerable and SEND students and also students whose parents are keyworkers.

She added that as regards the March dates : " I will write again closer to these dates when I may have more certainty about the numbers of staff on strike who will be absent and the level of agency supply staff available for the subsequent days of industrial action."