HUNDREDS of teachers joined civil servants to march through the streets in protest over pensions reforms.

More than 300 schools across Essex closed as members of the National Union of Teachers and the Public and Commercial Services Union rallied over proposals to raise the retirement age from 60 to 66 and replace final salary pension schemes.

The main march took place through Chelmsford town centre, but there were marches and rallies across the county.

One Southend-based secondary school teacher, with 23 years’ experience, said he, along with a number of other teachers, are not necessarily against the idea of reforms, but he does not believe the changes are being looked into properly.

The teacher, who took part in the march through Chelmsford, said: “What we will have to pay will be a lot more than what we actually get out of it at the end, so effectively the Government is taxing us extra because we work as teachers.

“When you start your career as a teacher you are told this is the pension scheme you’ll have, which in some ways is good because it’s set up for you.

“But it’s not fair for anyone to suddenly come along and change the way the money is gathered together, as we have no choice over what happens.”

A headteacher from Wickford at the march said raising the retirement age would also have a negative effect on how classes are taught and the overall standard of teaching.

She added: “I have been teaching for more than 20 years, but I would have real concerns over my capability of being able to teach children as well as I can now, at the age of 68.

“Can you imagine a class of four-year-olds being taught by someone of that age? It would not be right.”

Another teacher, from Westcliff, also had concerns with the raising of the retirement age as it would mean him changing his plans once he leaves his job.

He said: “I have already come up with plans for things I want to do when I retire, but if the changes are pushed through then that would mean I would need to make changes myself as they would be delayed by a couple of years.”