SCHOOL teachers are going on strike over their pensions.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) at Brighton Girls will strike for six days in an attempt to “defend their pensions” after the Girls’ Day School Trust proposed to remove its teaching staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The school in Montpelier Road, a member of the trust, is one of 23 independent schools in England and Wales taking part in the strike.

Beginning today (February 10), teachers will strike on February 23 and 24, as well as March 1, 2 and 3.

According to NEU, teachers will be at least 20 per cent worse off on average in terms of the annual amount they receive in pension payments.

A ballot saw 95 per cent of teacher members at the 23 schools vote in favour of discontinuous strike action on a turnout of 84 per cent.

The NEU said this is “unprecedented and overwhelming”, and the first strike action in the trust’s 149-year history.

District Secretary Liz Ritson said the trust has been “unable and unwilling to demonstrate any financial imperative for this decision”.

“It’s disappointing that the council of the Girls’ Day School Trust is rewarding the dedication and hard work of Brighton Girls teachers by proposing to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme,” she said.

“This leaves teachers at least 20 per cent worse off and is a poor way to thank teachers for the additional commitment given to students during Covid.

“This is so strongly felt that staff have overwhelmingly taken the difficult decision to take strike action – the first time in the trust’s 140-year history.”