UK strikes LIVE: 500,000 strike as teachers have 'concern about the future of education'

Striking teachers take to the streets - Regent Street 'blocked'

Striking teachers have been seen on the streets of London and unconfirmed reports indicate the busy thoroughfare of Regent Street is blocked.

The #TeacherStrike rally making its way up Regent Street pic.twitter.com/7p4I00g3Ac

— (@MusicLikeDirt) February 1, 2023

Another march Nottingham has progressed through the city centre, closing a lane of traffic as it approaches Maid Marian Way towards the city’s Albert Hall.

Teacher blasts politicians who send their children to private school

One teacher has blasted politicians who send their children to private schools, as state education goes without the things "they need."

Catherine Stevenson, 28, who teaches Year 6, said: “We don’t have the resources. Our children don’t have glue sticks or paper or pencils. Special educational needs children aren’t getting what they need either.

“They are not getting the specialist things they need. We have children in our classes with complex needs and they aren’t being supported.”

She called for the government to spend a day at school, adding: "Just come to our school and tell us that we don’t need more funding. Tell us that we don’t need more staff.

She added: “Why are you sending your children to private schools? If public schools are good enough why do private schools even exist? All Children deserve a good education.”

RMT receives revised offer from Network Rail

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union has said it has received a revised offer from Network Rail.

Thousands of rail staff across the country are on strike again today.

Reports indicate the new offer is similar to the nine per cent pay offer over two years that was rejected by the RMT in December, but that there are added reforms elsewhere in the deal.

An RMT spokesperson said: "We have received a revised offer from Network Rail and our NEC will consider its contents...

"No decision has been made on the proposals nor any of the elements within them. "We will now consult members through branch and regional meetings. "An update on our next steps will be forthcoming in due course."

Currently, another walkout is scheduled for Friday.

Teachers concerned that books have to be reused by students

A striking teacher in Brixton has outlined the falling standards in school equipment in recent years.

Secondary school teacher Gemma Owen, 27, said: "We are striking today because of 10 years of austerity where teachers have not been given a fair pay rise, especially now working in long hours with more restrictions and larger class sizes.

Big strike rally at Windrush Square in Brixton #strikes #1Feb pic.twitter.com/zcSwqu9s8i

— Sadie Robinson (@sadier01) February 1, 2023

"We use to be able to give students books for them to write and annotate in now and instead books get taken back in now and are reused. The reading books in my department are very shabby.

Gemma said London teachers "get paid a lot better than across the country."

"We are striking for all teachers across London to have a higher pay... for the amount of effort they put into their jobs and care."

Brixton teachers 'burnt out' by 'unrealistic' cuts

Speaking at a picket in central Brixton, Rhonda Albert, 37, a school support staff worker said 14 of her support staff colleagues had been made redundant in recent years.

The NEU rep at Rosendale Primary School in West Dulwich told the Mirror the cuts were “unrealistic”, adding: “We are stretched beyond measure we really are.

“Our workload is overwhelming. It’s too much. Instead of being able to support one class we are supporting three classes.

“You are just burnt out. You are not even having an impact on the children because there’s isn’t enough time with them.”

Calling for the education secretary to properly fund schools, she added: “I want them to take a step in our shoes and know what it feels like.

“How can the people on the outside decide what happens on the inside. They need to fund us.”

Her colleague Tom Milne, 55, a primary teacher, added: “There is not enough staff and the education you can provide is materially damaged by that.

“If you teach you want to do the best for your children and unless you have tried to run a class of 30 children by yourself - you don’t know what a difference it makes.

“The key thing is more staff. When budgets are cut and you lose support staff, that limits what you can do in the classroom for children, especially those that need specific support.”

Reception teacher Anya James, 30, warned teachers are “leaving in their droves”.

Speaking from a picket in Brixton, the NEU rep at Elm Wood Primary School, Lambeth, said: “We are here because we want better for the children.

“We want better for teachers and everyone in education.

“We want people to value what we do and not just see it as childcare. We are shaping the future and without children having a strong foundation and education - the future is bleak.

“We need to invest in all children across the board and the only way to do that is to make education a career people want to get into. At the moment it isn’t appealing to people."

Keep teachers in schools, teachers plead

Teachers at picket lines have said it is vital that the government works to retain teachers and stop them from leaving.

Secondary school teacher David Moughton sums it up simply. “I love this job,” he says. “I love what education is and what it stands for. I want the future of education to be amazing and bright but unfortunately it’s just not being invested in.”

The 31-year-old, who works in Stockton-on-tees, County Durham, went on strike today and believes the biggest issue to be recruitment and retention of staff.

“We are not getting enough new teachers and we are not keeping them either,” says David. “Subjects are struggling to attract new teachers, but more importantly in my opinion, is actually a fact that when people start it is very unlikely they are going to last for very long.

"The current statistic is one in four leave within two years of qualifying.”Although teachers were given a 5% pay rise this year, it came out of school budgets, which David describes as a really unpleasant feeling.

“When we are in a crisis of funding, where the national picture is so bleak for us as a system, then for the decision to be made, to ask for a pay rise out of school budgets when we need those budgets and my fellow colleagues need those budgets, the leadership in my school needs those budgets,” he says. “You really feel undervalued, and you feel like the government isn’t supporting you, when we’re trying to make the world a better place.”

Keep teachers in schools, teachers plead

Teachers at picket lines have said it is vital that the government works to retain teachers and stop them from leaving.

Secondary school teacher David Moughton sums it up simply. “I love this job,” he says. “I love what education is and what it stands for. I want the future of education to be amazing and bright but unfortunately it’s just not being invested in.”

The 31-year-old, who works in Stockton-on-tees, County Durham, went on strike today and believes the biggest issue to be recruitment and retention of staff.

“We are not getting enough new teachers and we are not keeping them either,” says David. “Subjects are struggling to attract new teachers, but more importantly in my opinion, is actually a fact that when people start it is very unlikely they are going to last for very long.

"The current statistic is one in four leave within two years of qualifying.”

Although teachers were given a 5% pay rise this year, it came out of school budgets, which David describes as a really unpleasant feeling.

“When we are in a crisis of funding, where the national picture is so bleak for us as a system, then for the decision to be made, to ask for a pay rise out of school budgets when we need those budgets and my fellow colleagues need those budgets, the leadership in my school needs those budgets,” he says. “You really feel undervalued, and you feel like the government isn’t supporting you, when we’re trying to make the world a better place.”

'The idea teachers start work at 8am and finish at 3pm is just wrong'

Striking teachers have told of the many reasons they have taken part in industrial action in search of better pay today.

Teacher and single mum Lucy Hoyle qualified as a full-time teacher in 2017, but is striking today as she seeks better pay.

Lucy, 33, admits having to pay for books and supplies from her own pocket. as school funding plummets. She has even had to take a second job tutoring to take care of her daughter.

"The idea teachers start work at 8am and finish at 3pm is just wrong," she tells the Mirror.

"If I only worked those hours and actually took my weekends and holiday off, the children would not be getting the education they need."

Read the Mirror's exclusive with Lucy here

Striking teachers around the country talk of 'crisis in schools'

Teachers in Warrington, Cheshire, joined today’s walk out which is affecting around 23,000 schools in England and Wales.

At Great Sankey High School in the town, motorists honked their horns in support of pickets who gathered outside at first light.

Physics teacher and NEU rep Tony Glenhill, 54, said: "We have a genuine concern about the future of education.

"There are number of reasons why the teaching profession has become less attractive since I started in the job. Pay is one of them.

"We have seen a crisis in schools in terms of recruitment and retention and it does not look to be getting any better.

We’re on strike because we care about our school and the pupils we teach. Fantastic turnout at #Nottingham Academy @NEUnion members, children and dogs to #SaveOurSchools #PayUp #EnoughIsEnough #TeacherStrike pic.twitter.com/xgFbBOxw6W

— NEU East Midlands (@NEUEastMidlands) February 1, 2023

History teacher Ellie Giles, 27, said: "I’m on strike today because essentially there is just a lack of funding and personally one thing I feel strongly about is the funding for support staff.

"There are kids in the education system who are desperately lacking the one to one support."

Classrooms at the school, which has more than 2,100 pupils, were open today for youngsters studying for their GCSEs and A levels.

History teacher Ben Evans said many pupils were interested in the reasons why their teachers had walked out.

"Because we are history teachers they have been asking questions and they have been supportive," he said.

"They want to receive a good education. They want to do as well as they can and they recognise the efforts and the support of their teachers, especially over the last few years."

"One pay cheque away from homelessness" - cabinet office civil servant

Over 100,000 civil servants from the PCS union are striking today, but the effects are even being felt among staff at the heart of government.

One has even said she is "one pay cheque away from homelessness."

Cabinet office civil servant Ellie Clarke, 31, said: "It is really, really hard. I am terrified every day. I am always worried I am one crisis away from homelessness.

"I am just one pay cheque away from being homeless. We shouldn’t be in this situation… we are working for the Government."

The Mirror has approached the cabinet office for comment.

'We'll be back on the 28th' - teacher not optimistic over union talks

One teacher has said he is not optimistic that the government will reach a settlement with the NEU and thinks staff will be "back on the 28th."

The NEU has said members in the North, North-west and Yorkshire and the Humber will walk out again if negotiations continue to falter.

— Steve Jones (@CerdynJones) February 1, 2023

James Hibbard, a head of year at Myton School in Warwick, said: "I think we’ll be back on the 28th. I’d like to think it will show to people there’s a little bit of disruption.

"That’s going to help people realise the struggle that we’re in but don’t necessarily think the Government will listen to that straight away.

"But I think they need to start thinking about the way funding streams work and how we can get a fully-funded education system."

February strikes dates confirmed as trains, teachers and nurses walk out

Workers from across different sectors like teaching, ambulance workers, nurses and rail workers are all set to strike in February.

So what days are workers on strike? Here is your February strike calendar:

February 1

University staff from the University and College Union (UCU)Train driver members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Aslef unionLondon bus drivers on Abellio bus servicesCivil servants from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) including Border Force agents
Teachers from the National Education Union (NEU). There will also be seven days of rolling strikes. Some will be across England and Wales while others will only affect some regions in England.

February 3

Train driver members from the RMT and Aslef

February 6

Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

GMB and Unite ambulance workers

February 9

University staff from UCU

February 10

University staff from UCU

February 14

Separate strike for NEU teachers in Wales

February 14-16

University staff from UCU

February 21-23

University staff from UCU

February 28

NEU members in the North, North-west and Yorkshire and the Humber

Read more here

Teachers open up on 'difficult' strike decision

Teachers have opened up on the many reasons they are set to strike today.

As well as pay, teachers are responsible for the well-being of their students when they are at school and some feel the pressure of the job can hinder their ability to do that.

Primary school teacher Antonia Lozano, 30, said she wants to make sure children have the best education as they grow up.

She said: "I love my school and I’m really proud of where I work, but the pressure we are put under isn’t being reflected in our pay.

"The government wants us to meet difficult targets and deliver the curriculum, with the extra duty of care we have on top of that, but then are saying that our labour doesn’t deserve a pay rise."

Antonio was one of a number of teachers to explain to the Mirror why they are walking out today.

Read more here

Biggest day of industrial action in a decade

Today's strike action which includes teachers, rail workers, civil servants, bus drivers and university staff, is the biggest day of industrial action in a decade.

Around half a million workers are walking out in increasingly bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.

More than 100,000 members from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have walked out. This includes staff at ports and airports.

"Majority of schools will be open" - Keegan

Gillian Keegan has said that the "majority" of the country's schools will be open today despite industrial action by the National Education Union (NEU).

Strikes are expected to affect around 23,000 schools and headteachers have been left to decide if they will open.

The Education Secretary said: "We did do a survey and we have rung round a lot of schools as well and that told us told us that the majority of schools will be open but some will have restrictions for different cohorts."

Ms Keegan said the country could not afford above-inflation pay awards.

"What is not realistic is for us to be looking at inflation or inflation-busting pay rises. We cannot risk fuelling inflation with inflation-busting pay rises. We have to look after everybody in the economy."

The NEU said: "Energy bills are soaring, inflation is at 12.3 per cent (August 2022) – a forty-year high. But the Government is suggesting experienced teachers’ pay should only go up by five per cent this year. This is a seven per cent cut."

When are the train driver strikes?

Trian driver strikes will see members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Aslef union walk out today and Friday.

The train operators are: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Gatwick Express; Great Northern; Heathrow Express; London Northwestern Railway; Northern; Southeastern; Southern; Thameslink, South Western Railway (including Island Line); TransPennine Express; West Midlands Railway.

Keegan tells teachers there is work on a "range of issues"

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has told senior school staff and teachers that the government and unions are working through a "range of issues."

In a letter last night, she wrote: "We are working through a range of issues which includes pay, workload, flexible working, behaviour and much more."

Keegan and the government have drawn criticism from the unions in recent days and weeks.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: "The Education Secretary cannot continue to procrastinate when there are sensible options that could be progressed in the interests of teachers, pupils and the government."

Teacher strikes 'could last until summer'

The NEU has warned that teacher strikes could last until summer unless a breakthrough is reached in pay negotiations.

The union claimed Education Secretary Gillian Keegan had "squandered" talks between the government and unions.

Rolling strikes until March have already been announced.

Joint NEU General Secretary Kevin Courtney told the Mirror: "We really want to resolve this before we reach the end of term but if there is no movement from Government and if members are still ready for it which I think they will be, then it could go into the summer term too."

Ms Keegan said: “It is hugely disappointing the NEU is continuing with strike action. These strikes will have a significant impact on children’s education, especially following the disruption of the past two years, and are creating huge uncertainty for parents.

Read more here

Full list of strikes this week

Strikes by up to half-a-million workers across the UK in bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions are set to take place this week.

Teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards from seven trade unions will walk out on Wednesday in what will be the biggest day of industrial action in over a decade.

Nurses and ambulance staff will also follow suit on Monday, February 6 too.

The head of the TUC has said these strikes should send a clear message to the Government that it cannot continue to ignore the causes of the unrest.

Protests will also be held across the country on the same day against the Government's controversial plans for a new law on minimum service levels during strikes.

Find out who is striking and when this week here

Education Secretary 'disappointed' strike action is going ahead

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said she "disappointed" that a strike by teachers in England and Wales is going ahead.

Ms Keegan told Times Radio the industrial action was unnecessary as discussions with the unions were continuing.

"I am disappointed that it has come to this, that the unions have made this decision. It is not a last resort. We are still in discussions. Obviously there is a lot of strike action today but this strike did not need to go ahead," she said.

Ms Keegan said she did not know how many schools would be forced to closed due to the industrial action.

She said: "We are hoping as many schools as possible stay open. We know that head teachers and other school leaders have been working really hard to keep schools open for as many kids as possible."

Teachers' strike is 'unfortunate', union boss says

Dr Mary Bousted, the National Education Union's general secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it is "very unfortunate" that teachers are taking strike action today.

She said it is "very important that teachers stand up now" and described the situation in schools as "untenable".

When asked if she respected the decision of some teachers not to strike she said: "of course...the unions can't compel members".

She added: "All we can say is we are doing the best we can to negotiate".

School closures in Durham today

Nearly 30 schools are set to close or partially close across Durham today.

Some of those schools include:

Aclet Close Nursery School – partially closed.

Acre Rigg Infant School – partially closed.

Bearpark Primary School – open for critical workers and vulnerable children.

Benfieldside Primary School – fully closed.

Burnside Primary School - closed to Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 6 pupils.

Consett Infant School – partial closure.

Durham Trinity School and Sports College – partial closure.

Hamsterley Primary School – fully closed.

St Anne's CofE Primary School - partial closure. Reception and Year 1 will remain open.

Yohden Primary School – fully closed.

Find the full list here here

Sadiq Khan writes in Mirror on anti-strike bill

The Government’s new anti-strike bill is not only an attack on a fundamental right – the right to withdraw your labour – but a full-frontal assault on working people.

Let’s be clear, nobody wants to go on strike. Nurses, ambulance workers, firefighters, teachers, transport workers and civil servants are members of our communities and they care deeply about serving our society.

They only consider taking industrial action when they are pushed to breaking point – and that’s exactly what this Tory Government has done.

After crashing the economy, sending people’s mortgages and rents skyrocketing, and presiding over more than a decade of austerity, lost growth and collapsing living standards, this Government is now picking a fight with trade unions because they hope it will divert attention away from their shameful record in office and the cost-of-living emergency they helped to create.

Read more of Sadiq Khan's column here

Search your nearest schools on interactive map

Fed-up teachers will go on strike across England and Wales as Tory ministers continue to resist their demands for decent pay rises.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) will take part in the first of seven days of rolling strikes on Wednesday, which will run until March 16.

Some 23,400 schools are expected to be affected when tens of thousands of teachers swap classrooms for picket lines to show their fury over more than a decade of squeezed pay.

Teachers are joining university staff, train drivers and civil servants for the biggest day of mass walkouts in more than a decade.

Look it up here

Teachers join biggest day of public sector strikes in more than a decade

Strikes by up to half-a-million workers across the UK in bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions are set to take place this week.

Teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards from seven trade unions will walk out on Wednesday in what will be the biggest day of industrial action in over a decade.

Thousands of ambulance workers in Unison across five services in England will also strike on February 10 in the long-running dispute over pay and staffing.

One thousand Border Force officers will also stage strikes for four days during half term, it was announced yesterday - putting school holidays in jeopardy.

Where are teachers on strike? Search your nearest schools on interactive map

Teachers are joining university staff, train drivers and civil servants for the biggest day of mass walkouts in more than a decade.

A total of 23,400 schools are expected to be affected today when staff take to picket lines after last-ditch talks with the Government collapsed earlier this week.

You can use our interactive map here to find out which schools will be impacted by the strike action in your area.

Simply enter your postcode into the 'strikes' map halfway down the page to use this feature. A separate tab will also show where the nearest demonstrations are taking place.

Teachers' strikes are a 'last resort'

Joint National Education Union chief Dr Mary Bousted says strikes were a "last resort" but the Tories have failed to grasp teachers' anger after years of cuts, squeezed pay and staffing shortages.

"It's a massive moment in the profession," she told the Mirror.

She said parents know that staffing shortages and the failure to retain experienced staff was harming kids' education.

"Parents will know that every day, what's happening in our schools is they are running on empty," she said.

Will the Government organise extra teaching days?

There are no plans on a national level for extra teaching to make up for strike days at the moment.

No requirement is placed upon striking teachers to 'recover' time lost from days of industrial action, and pupils are advised to attend school as normal unless told otherwise.

Pupils who have been advised to stay home on strike days should not be marked as absent, according to the latest Government guidance.

Schools have been advised to deliver remote learning if they do have to restrict pupil attendance.

Broken teacher says she's striking as 'government have taken advantage' of hard work

A secondary school teacher has said she "can't really afford to strike" but is going to because she needs to "do something."

Keri Russell, 48, is a secondary school biology teacher who says teachers' hard work and care is being "taken advantage of" by the government.

The mum of five, from Braintree, Essex, said: "I can't really afford to strike, but I feel I really need to do something.

"I do the job because I absolutely love teaching - I love the moment when the lightbulb clicks for a student, and when they share their aspirations for the future."

Read more here.

Why are teachers striking?

Teachers are furious about the Government’s offer of a 5% pay rise for most teachers, which works out as a 5% cut due to inflation.

Talks with the National Education Union (NEU) to avert the strikes ended without agreement on Monday.

Several days of rolling strikes are now set to run from February 1 until March 16, with millions of pupils affected.

February 1 will also be a national strike across England and Wales, as will March 15 and 16.

A separate strike in Wales is scheduled for February 14 and there will be regional walkouts in England on February 28, March 1 and 2.