AT LEAST 18 schools in Croydon are closed today as teachers take part in a mass walkout by public sector workers across the UK.
A further 15 primary and secondary schools are only partially open as result of the dispute over pensions, pay and working conditions.
Riddlesdown Collegiate, St Joseph's College, Heavers Farm Primary and Chipstead Valley Primary are among the schools which have decided to shut.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said teachers "deeply regretted" taking strike action.
The strike is being held alongside action by five other public sector unions, representing firefighters, council staff and civil servants, but the NUT is the only teachers' union taking part.
The Department for Education has said there is no justification for strikes and Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to tighten ballot laws.
It is unclear exactly how many schools in Croydon are affected by the walkout, as a number have not published information on their own website or the central register.
In a message on the school's website Gordon Smith, principal of Riddlesdown Collegiate, which has closed, said he had hoped to "run a relatively normal day".
He added: "However, it is now clear this will not be possible and that I would have over 100 students each lesson of the day that I could not provide adequate teaching or supervision for. Therefore, with regret, I need to inform you that Riddlesdown Collegiate will be closed."
At least nine schools remain open as normal, including Gonville Academy Archbishop Lanfranc School and Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College.
To view the official OpenCheck website, which lists whether a school is open or closed, click here.Closed:
Chipstead Valley Primary
Ecclesbourne Primary Academy
Heavers Farm Primary School
Kingsley Primary School
Park Hill Infant School
Purley Oaks Primary School
Selsdon Primary and Nursery School
St Joseph's Catholic Junior, Infant and Nursery schools*
Whitehorse Manor Infant and Nursery Academy
Whitehorse Manor Junior Academy
Winterbourne Junior Girls' School
Riddlesdown Collegiate
St Joseph's College
Thomas More Catholic School
Cypress Primary School
Fairchildes Primary School
Rockmount Primary School
Rowdown Primary School Open:
Courtwood Primary School
Gilbert Scott Primary School
Gonville Academy
St Peter's Primary School
The Archbishop Lanfranc School
Edenham High School
Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College for Girls
Atwood Primary School
Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School Partially open:
Beulah Infants' School
Beulah Junior School
Coulsdon CE Primary School
Davidson Primary School
Downsview Primary and Nursery School
Elmwood Infant School
Kenley Primary School
Park Hill Junior School
St Chad's Catholic Primary School
St Mary's RC Junior School
Woodcote High School
Archbishop Tenison's CE High School
Virgo Fidelis
Forestdale Primary School
Forest Academy
* One class going on a school trip
