TEACHERS in Dorset are set for a second day of strike action in an ongoing dispute over pay with the Government. 

Teachers who are part of the National Education Union (NEU) will take action on Thursday, March 2 on what is World Book Day. 

It is the second day of strike action set to take place, with a further two-day national strike penned for Wednesday, March 15 and Thursday, March 16 where teachers from across the country will attend a mass rally in London.

During this week's strike action, picket lines will be formed outside schools across the county. 

There will also be speeches read out at Dorchester Town Hall, as well as demonstrations through South Street from midday.

NEU Dorset President Mark Chutter said ahead of the strike: "The Government have yet again emphatically refused our improved pay demands so we are striking again on Thursday.

"However, this strike is not just purely about pay but also about respecting the profession, reducing our workload and improving our conditions."

Schools across the county are set to be affected by the action, one of those is Budmouth Academy in Weymouth.

In a letter to parents/carers, the schools' headteacher Michael Hoffmann said: "Can I apologise in advance for any disruption that this action may cause, and reassure you that we are doing everything to minimise that disruption, especially for those students who will be sitting exams this year. 

"At Budmouth we have a number of staff in the NEU and in addition, we are unable to ask members of other unions to cover classes for staff who take industrial action."

The letter went on to say that the school will be running on limited attendance for the day: "We will be open to Year 7, Year 9, Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students only. 

"I am sorry if this presents a problem to parents of students in other year groups.

"Years 8 and 10 will remain at home, where online tasks will be provided on Google Classrooms. 

"Year 9 will be in school because we have Options Evening that night (starting at 5 pm) 

"Parents of students in Years 8 and 10 in receipt of free school meals (FSM) will receive a supermarket voucher by email on February 28."

The first day of action took place on Wednesday, February 1 when teachers went on strike, causing some schools in Dorset to close while some remained open on limited attendance only. 

That day coincided with the Trades Union Council's (TUC) day of action. 

The TUC were leading a protest to protect the right to strike amid proposed legislation that would require minimum-service levels to be met in key industries during strikes.

The Echo will have live coverage throughout the day with an updated list of all the schools that will close in the wake of the strike action.