This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7363718.stm

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 14 Version 15
Strike disrupting 8,000 schools Strike disrupting 8,000 schools
(40 minutes later)
About a third of schools in England and Wales have been disrupted by the first national teachers' strike in 21 years.About a third of schools in England and Wales have been disrupted by the first national teachers' strike in 21 years.
The walkout by thousands of teachers has closed or partially closed up to 8,000 schools, and forced working parents to stay home or find childcare. The walkout by thousands of teachers has closed or partially closed up to 8,000 schools, forcing working parents to stay at home or find childcare.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is staging more than 50 rallies across the countries, as members demand a 4.1% pay rise rather than the 2.45% on offer. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is staging more than 50 rallies, as members demand a 4.1% pay rise rather than the 2.45% on offer.
Schools minister Jim Knight said it was a good deal and he felt parents' anger. Gordon Brown described the strike as "unfortunate and regrettable".
This one-day strike, condemned by all the main political parties, is the opening move in what the NUT says will be a long-term campaign over pay.This one-day strike, condemned by all the main political parties, is the opening move in what the NUT says will be a long-term campaign over pay.
BBC education correspondent James Westhead said the union was not ruling out further strikes - leading to a possible "summer of discontent" if its demands were not met
TEACHERS' PAY £20,133 - starting salary (England and Wales)£34,281 - most experienced teachers' salary (outside London)+£4,000 - additional pay for inner London teachers£39,525 - headteachers' starting salaryNearly £100,000 - most experienced headteachers' salary Schools so far facing disruptionThousands in civil service strikeHow public sector pay compares
It was estimated that more than 2.5m pupils were affected - with more than a million forced to stay at home on Thursday. Many are studying for GCSE examinations which start next month.
Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, said: "We expect the strike to be well supported, even where schools only have a few NUT members."
Mr Brown said the strike had been called by a "minority" of teachers, and said it was regrettable for both pupils and parents.
He added: "I hope we can move forward in the next few months and get a sure settlement of this."
Widespread disruptionWidespread disruption
Throughout the morning, teachers formed picket lines outside their schools. As the day of action began, teachers formed picket lines outside schools. Many held banners aloft bearing slogans such as "Where's the money, Darling?" - calling on the chancellor to make more money available for their pay award.
Some held banners aloft bearing slogans such as "Where's the money, Darling?" Others handed out leaflets to parents to explain why they were taking action. Other teachers handed out leaflets to parents to explain why they were on strike.
In London, more than 1,000 teachers are marching to Westminster as other rallies are staged in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bolton, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Cardiff and Wrexham. In London, more than 1,000 teachers marched to Westminster as other rallies were staged in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bolton, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Cardiff and Wrexham.
Earlier this week, a survey indicated a third of schools were likely to be affected, meaning lost lessons for more than 2.5 million pupils. The disruption includes:
    • Early reports on Thursday suggest:
      • In Liverpool, the NUT said just seven out of 194 schools were fully open
      • In Liverpool, the NUT said just seven out of 194 schools were fully open
      • In Cumbria, more than 90 schools are shut and 53 are partially closed
      • In Cumbria, more than 90 schools are shut and 53 are partially closed
      • In Birmingham, the largest local education authority in the UK, 160 schools are affected. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce anticipated the strike would cost the city millions of pounds as parents stayed at home or looked for alternative childcare arrangements
        		•
      • In Birmingham, the largest local education authority in the UK, 160 schools are affected.
      • In Wales, half of schools (900) are shut or partially shut. At one partially-closed primary school in Cardiff, one twin had to go to school, the other, who was in a different class, stayed at home
        		•
      • In Wales, half of schools (900) are shut or partially shut.
      • In Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, more than 170 schools are either closed or partially shut
      • In Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, more than 170 schools are either closed or partially shut
      • Widespread disruption is also expected to schools in Leeds, Manchester, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and inner London
        		•
      • Widespread disruption is also expected to affect schools in Leeds, Manchester, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and inner London
        • But many other schools will be unaffected - as the strike is only being staged by the NUT without the support of other teachers' unions. But many other schools, where teachers are members of unions other than the NUT, remained unaffected.
        TEACHERS' PAY £20,133 - starting salary (England and Wales)£34,281 - most experienced teachers' salary (outside London)+£4,000 - additional pay for inner London teachers£39,525 - headteachers' starting salaryNearly £100,000 - most experienced headteachers' salary class="" href="/1/hi/education/7359036.stm">Schools so far facing disruption class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7364132.stm">Thousands in civil service strike class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7140610.stm">How public sector pay compares The NASUWT and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have accepted the pay review body's recommendations and will not be taking industrial action.
        The NUT is protesting against a pay deal that they say represents an erosion of earnings. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThis is not a selfish request for higher wages but a need to keep teachers' pay in line with other graduate professions Jenny, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4667">Send us your comments
        Teachers have been offered a three-year deal worth 2.45% this year and then increases of 2.3% in the following years. Experts said the strike would have wider implications for the economy, as many working parents were forced to stay at home to look after children
        Christine Blower, the union's acting head, said: "What we're saying to the government is, if you really do value teachers, then make sure that they're paid at least at the level of inflation - which we take to be the RPI, which is 4.1%." Sally Low, from the British Chambers of Commerce, estimated businesses could lose at least £68m in lost working hours, plus the additional disruption of having to fill in behind absent staff.
        The NUT say the pay deal offered to teachers represented an erosion of their earnings.
        They have been offered a three-year deal worth 2.45% this year, and then increases of 2.3% in the following years.
        Ms Blower said: "What we're saying to the government is, if you really do value teachers, then make sure that they're paid at least at the level of inflation - which we take to be the RPI, which is 4.1%."
        Pay battlePay battle
        She said school staff must not be forced to pay the price in lower earnings for pressures on public sector pay.She said school staff must not be forced to pay the price in lower earnings for pressures on public sector pay.
        class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThis is not a selfish request for higher wages but a need to keep teachers' pay in line with other graduate professions Jenny, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4667">Send us your comments But the government rejected the complaint - arguing that parents would not be sympathetic.
        But the government rejects the complaint - arguing that parents will not be sympathetic.
        "I think parents are bewildered because they hear that the average teacher earns about £34,000," said schools minister Jim Knight."I think parents are bewildered because they hear that the average teacher earns about £34,000," said schools minister Jim Knight.
        "Their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997 and that at 2.45% they're getting more than the 2% benchmark for public sector pay last year and that it's a reasonable deal.""Their pay has gone up by 19% in real terms since 1997 and that at 2.45% they're getting more than the 2% benchmark for public sector pay last year and that it's a reasonable deal."
        Mr Knight said teachers were being rewarded well for doing a good job, but asked the NUT to respect the view of the independent pay review body, which recommended the pay award.Mr Knight said teachers were being rewarded well for doing a good job, but asked the NUT to respect the view of the independent pay review body, which recommended the pay award.
        NUT defends teachers' strikeNUT defends teachers' strike
        "I share the anger of parents who see the children missing out on education so close to their exams." "I share the anger of parents who see the children missing out on education so close to their exams," he said.
        Lesley Auger, a teacher for 30 years, said she had seen periods of boom and bust. Teachers said although pay had gone up in the past, recent wage settlements were causing it to lag again.
        "We have been paid well but we have had to face three years of low... pay rises and we are now looking at the prospect of another three years of the same," she said. Lesley Auger, a teacher for 30 years, said: "We have been paid well but we have had to face three years of low... pay rises and we are now looking at the prospect of another three years of the same."
        Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb said it was "deeply regrettable" so many children would have their education disrupted by this strike, particularly those with important exams coming up.Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb said it was "deeply regrettable" so many children would have their education disrupted by this strike, particularly those with important exams coming up.
        Liberal Democrat school spokesman David Laws argued teachers should have a no-strike agreement. Liberal Democrat school spokesman David Laws said that teachers should have a no-strike agreement.
        		"Given the importance of education, we should be trying to move to a presumption that teaching unions will not take strike action," he said.
        Are you taking a day off to look after your children due to the strike? Are you a teacher on the picket line? Is your school affected by the strike? Send your comments using the post form below:
        Name