Teachers' strike: Biggest strike day in a decade as 100,000 teachers ...

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Edited by Andrew Humphrey and Alice Evans

All times stated are UK

Alison Dickinson's dad Pete drove an hour from Preston this morning to help her look after eight-year-old Liv.

Less than half a mile away from their home in Sale, Manchester, Liv's school was completely closed.

Single mum Alison had to overhaul her work plans for the day to be at home as much as possible with her daughter. Liv "thinks she's having a wonderful day off" but it's not been easy for Alison to juggle work and childcare.

"It's almost like she's got a radar, as soon as I'm distracted she's on me - 'mummy, mummy, mummy' - which isn't ideal when I'm on the phone," she says.

Alison says she understands the perspective of the teachers who've been off today, but she's "torn".

"The children have missed out on so much," she says.

"Yes you could say it's just a day, but it's not just missing out on the academic side, it's the mental health impact as well - the disruption, the uncertainty."

Malu Cursino

BBC News Live reporter

Maya Mailer is parent who has been speaking to me today.

Based in west London, Maya slightly tweaked her schedule to look after her three children during school hours today. We spoke briefly while she was out on a walk with Emi, four, and Jacob, nine.

"It's closed, Emi, look, it's closed," Maya tells her youngest as they walk past the closed nursery.

Although she's only little, Emi understands why her teachers are striking today.

"We really understand why they're striking," Maya tells me, adding that her and her partner have explained the reasons behind the industrial action to her children, who are very supportive of it.

"They're kids, they're quite excited to have a day off," Maya reminds me.

Maya worked over the weekend to prepare for having the children at home today.

Talya, who is in Year 7, has managed her own time a bit more than her siblings today, Maya tells me, meeting some school friends to go shopping.

Some 51.7% of schools were partially closed or closed due to teacher strikes on Wednesday, according to government figures of state-funded primary, secondary and special schools in England.

The Department for Education figures are based on data sent to them by 77% (16,400) of state-funded schools in England.

Some 43.9% of those schools said they were fully open, 42.8% open but restricting attendance, and 8.9% fully closed.

Earlier in the day the education secretary said most schools would stay open, while the NEU said it thought 85% of schools would be closed or partially closed.

Head teachers and school leaders in Wales who are members of the NAHT union are taking action short of a strike today.

It’s the first time in the union's 125 year history that it will be taking part in industrial action over pay and funding.

The action will include:

Peter Ruddick

Business reporter

As well as picket lines, there are rallies being held by the Trades Union Congress today to "protect the right to strike".

The rain hasn't kept people away from the event in Manchester - and it isn't just union leaders speaking to the crowds.

Deej Malik-Johnson, from Black Lives Matter, says his movement is here because the rising cost of living disproportionately affects people on lower incomes and people of colour.

“I think it is really important for us to come together as a working class in general,” he says.

“We need to recognise that we are all workers. People of colour tend to have more insecure jobs, especially in public sector roles like paramedics or social carers.

"It is incredibly important that we get our liberation and strength.”

Here is a little more information from the Association of School and College Leaders' snapshot survey of some schools in England and Wales.

For those schools that are either partially closed or completely shut today, head teachers have taken a range of different measures to support students, the union's survey says.

Out of 823 schools:

For schools who were either partially or fully open, from 833 respondents they found:

In Scotland civil servants, higher education staff and some rail workers have joined teachers in striking.

Rallies are also being held in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee against the UK government's strikes bill.

School closures are likely to bring the impact of the strikes (quite literally) home to more families than have so far been affected by industrial action.

That could increase pressure on the government, depending on how disruptive the strikes prove to be and who parents decide to blame.

Ministers' strategy has been to continue to urge teachers not to walk out and say they remain open to talks.

But they're not shifting their general position on above-inflation pay rises, which the government maintains would keep inflation high for longer and prolong the financial pain for all.

Most state-school teachers in England and Wales had a 5% rise in 2022. In Northern Ireland, many teachers were offered 3.2% for 2021/22 and 2022/23. In Scotland, teachers have rejected both a 5% increase and a more recent offer of up to 6.85%.

But how much are they getting paid at the moment?

Last year in England, teachers were paid an average of £38,982.

In Wales it was £39,009, and in Scotland £40,026. We've not been given a comparable figure for Northern Ireland.

For those starting out, the annual salary will rise to £30,000 by September in England.

The average head teacher's salary in England is £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders.

The general secretary of the RMT has told teachers "we are the working class, and we are back".

Mick Lynch says "every worker needs a pay rise, every worker needs a square deal".

Speaking at an NEU rally in Westminster, the rail union boss adds: "Welcome to Westminster, the house of fools and the house of the corrupt."

He told thousands of teachers gathered outside Downing Street that "we will not be divided on the basis of who we work for.

"We are here, demanding change... and we are going to win for our people on our terms."

Almost all head teachers who responded to a survey from the Association of School and College Leaders say their school has been affected by today’s strike.

In a survey it found that 97% of headteachers reported that their school had teachers that were on strike.

Of the 920 schools and sixth-form colleges who responded who said teachers were on strike:

This is just a snapshot – there are around 26,000 schools in England and Wales.

Thousands of people have gathered in London in support of what is expected to be the biggest walk out in a decade.

Vanessa Clarke

Education reporter

Lisa O’Brien from Wolverhampton is having "flashbacks of the pandemic" as her six-year-old twin boys are at home today.

They attend a special school where the staff-to-pupil ratio is high so the school has had to close.

She said her boys are handling the disruption really well as special educational needs children sometimes find it difficult when they have a day off during the week.

They missed a lot of nursery due to the pandemic so she believes that in order to catch up and progress "they need to be going into school every day".

Her daughter, who is at a mainstream school, was able to go to school as normal today.

She believes the most vulnerable children in society are being affected by the strikes and that it’s important we don’t forget them, “these are the kids who really need to be in the classroom”.

Hundreds of teachers, academic staff and public sector workers have taken to the streets of Cambridge to make their voices heard.

They’ve stopped traffic in the city centre, marching from Parker’s Piece to the Guildhall.

Some were chanting, others playing the drums.

Parents of school children joined them including Amaia and her family (pictured above) who live in Cambridge but are originally from Spain.

Kristian Johnson

Education reporter

Rupal Maru quit teaching in 2021 and now leads Bollywood dance classes at festivals in her new job as an Indian arts trainer.

The 32-year-old loves the "vibrant" dancing as it's something fun "that everyone can get involved with".

It is a world away from the “60-plus hour weeks” she worked during her six years as primary school teacher in Liverpool and London.

Many teachers like Rupal are leaving the profession - and schools are struggling to recruit new teachers too.

Last year only 59% of the target numbers started training to be secondary school teachers, down from 79% the previous year.

“I do really miss teaching, but my quality of life is so much better now,” says Rupal.

“As a teacher, I was either doing work or thinking about work seven days a week. It wasn’t healthy.

“Now I’ve got the freedom to do what I want creatively and work towards my passions.”

Rupal also works as a public speaking trainer and runs her own business, but says she now has more free time to see friends and family.

“I’m actually working less hours and earning more than I was as a teacher.”

Vanessa Clarke

Education reporter

We caught up with one teacher today on his lunch break who has decided not to join the strike action.

His school is partially closed and he now has extra pupils in his class making it “massively busier".

Many other schools in his area are fully closed so the teachers are also having to bring their own children to work.

“I don’t think striking is the answer,” he says, speaking to us anonymously.

He believes he has a slightly different perspective having only joined education in the last few years after working in other sectors.

“I agree with strikes overall” he adds but not for teachers as children have just been through lockdown and “now we are doing this - it doesn’t make sense to me".

Shona Elliot

Reporting from Liverpool

The rain hasn’t dampened the spirits of people attending the teachers rally in Liverpool today.

We heard the megaphone before we saw the crowd outside the Britannia Adelphi Hotel.

Teachers from picket lines around Liverpool have gathered in the city centre this afternoon for a mass demonstration.

Whistles are blowing, crowds are chanting and steward Peter Middleman from the teacher's union is calling the crowd to attention.

“Thank you for being here” he shouted before informing the enthusiastic crowds that nearly double the numbers expected have turned up today.

He estimates hundreds of people are there.

Throughout his speech horns are sounding repeatedly on the busy street, each one gaining another cheer from the eager crowd.