TEACHERS are set to go on strike next week in a bid to keep a primary school open.

Rodmell Primary School teachers have voted to strike next Wednesday in protest at East Sussex County Council plans to close the school.

The move is the latest in a growing campaign to save the school from closure in plans unveiled by the council in March.

Union leaders said the strike will shut the school for a day in an effort to try to keep it open for many more years.

Plans to shut the 136-pupil school next summer, along with Pells Primary School in Lewes, were put out to public consultation last month.

East Sussex County Councillors voted earlier this month to keep the school open following led by Liberal Democrat councillor Carla Butler and sparked by a petition of more than 5000 signature.

Concerns remain over the school’s future despite the full council victory because the future of the school will rely on the final say so of the council’s cabinet and education lead Councillor Nick Bennett.

Phil Clarke, secretary of the Lewes Eastbourne and Wealden NUT, said all members of the teaching staff took place in the ballot and all teaching staff voted to strike.

He added: “All the teachers at Rodmell have voted to take this action because they know this successful school which is due to be oversubscribed by 2020 is worth fighting to save.

“We know we have parental support for this action and will be working with parents on the day to campaign to keep our small schools open.

“It is fundamentally undemocratic that a small group of councillors can overrule the vote of the whole council.

“We call on the cabinet members to respect the view of our elected representatives and not move to close Rodmell and Pells schools.”

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “While we understand the concerns people have, we are disappointed teachers at Rodmell have opted to take industrial action.

“It’s important to stress that no decision has been made yet.

“The consultations on the two proposed closures run until Friday May 27 and we’d urge people who feel strongly on this issue to use the consultations to make their voices heard.

“Like most councils in the country, we operate a cabinet system which means that most decisions are taken by cabinet, or delegated to lead members.

“A decision on the two proposed school closures is due to be made by cabinet on Tuesday, July 19 and will only be taken after members have carefully considered all the responses to the consultations and the recommendation made by full council earlier this month.

“People can take part in the consultations online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay.”