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Strike disrupting 8,000 schools Strike hits one in three schools
(about 3 hours 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 the schools in England and Wales were disrupted, and one in 10 closed completely during the biggest teachers' strike in 21 years.
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) said thousands of teachers had obeyed its strike call, showing it had made the "right decision".
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. The union did not rule out more action in the weeks ahead as it continues its campaign for a 4.1% pay rise.
Gordon Brown has described the strike as "unfortunate and regrettable". But 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, affected about 8,000 schools in total, and was the opening move in what the NUT says will be a long-term campaign over pay.
Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, said she could not rule out further pay strikes in the months ahead. Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the NUT, said: "Thousands of our members turned out to support this day of action. It shows the NUT made the right decision to call upon its members to strike."
"It is not in my gift to give that guarantee," she told the BBC. Earlier she told the BBC that she could not rule out further pay strikes in the months ahead.
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 Q&A: Public sector payIn pictures: Teachers on streetsTEACHERS' 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 Q&A: Public sector payIn pictures: Teachers on streets
It was estimated that more than 2.5m pupils were affected by Thursday's strike - with more than a million forced to stay at home. Many are studying for GCSE examinations which start next month. More than 2.5m pupils were estimated to have been affected by Thursday's strike - with more than a million forced to stay at home. Many pupils are studying for GCSE examinations which start next month.
The prime minister said the strike had been called by a "minority" of teachers, and said it was regrettable for both pupils and parents.The prime minister said the strike had been called by a "minority" of teachers, and said it was regrettable for both pupils and parents.
Mr Brown added: "I hope we can move forward in the next few months and get a sure settlement of this."Mr Brown added: "I hope we can move forward in the next few months and get a sure settlement of this."
Further education colleges in England were also disrupted, as members of the University and College Union (UCU) walked out in protest at their pay settlement.Further education colleges in England were also disrupted, as members of the University and College Union (UCU) walked out in protest at their pay settlement.
Hundreds of college departments were closed, and prison education departments were also affected.Hundreds of college departments were closed, and prison education departments were also affected.
Schools lie empty as teachers take to the streetsSchools lie empty as teachers take to the streets
Figures provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families indicated that 67% of schools in England and Wales remained open on Thursday
Twenty-one per cent of schools remained open, but had some of their classes affected, and 12% were closed altogether.
A DCSF spokesman said: "We are pleased that more than four in five schools were able to remain open today for some or all of their pupils."
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 funds available for their pay award.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 funds available for their pay award.
Other teachers handed out leaflets to parents to explain why they were on strike. But in many schools, where teachers were not members of the NUT, the strike had minimal impact.
In London, police estimated that more than 6,000 teachers and other public sector workers had marched to a rally in Westminster. The National Association of Headteachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (NASUWT) has accepted the pay review body recommendations, and did not support the NUT's day of action.
SCHOOLS HIT BY STRIKE South West: 254 closed or partially closedLiverpool: 187 closed, 213 partially closedLondon: 708 closed, 769 partially closedNorth East: At least 402 closed or partially closedWales: About 500 closed, 400 partially closedWest Midlands: 200 closed, 264 partially closedYorkshire: At least 600 closed or partially closed
In London, police estimated that more than 6,000 teachers and other public sector workers had taken part in a march and rally in Westminster.
More than 1,000 people gathered for a rally in Birmingham's Victoria Square, where a band played a song from the 1984 miners' strike, "I'd rather be a picket than a scab".More than 1,000 people gathered for a rally in Birmingham's Victoria Square, where a band played a song from the 1984 miners' strike, "I'd rather be a picket than a scab".
Other rallies were staged in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bolton, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Cardiff and Wrexham.Other rallies were staged in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bolton, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull, Cardiff and Wrexham.
The disruption includes:
  • 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 Birmingham, the largest local education authority in the UK, 160 schools are affected
  • 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
  • Widespread disruption is also expected to affect schools in Leeds, Manchester, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire and inner London
    • But many other schools, where teachers were not members of the NUT, remained unaffected.
    The NASUWT, the National Association of Headteachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have accepted the pay review body recommendations, and will not be taking industrial action.
    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, LondonSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYThis is not a selfish request for higher wages but a need to keep teachers' pay in line with other graduate professions Jenny, LondonSend us your comments
    Experts said the strike would have wider implications for the economy, with many working parents forced to stay at home to look after children Businesses also felt the effects of the strike, as many working parents forced to stay at home to look after children
    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. Sally Low, from the British Chambers of Commerce, estimated that firms in England and Wales lost at least £68m because of absenteeism.
    The government's three-year pay deal for teachers is worth 2.45% this year, and then increases of 2.3% in the following years. The NUT has rejected the government's three-year pay deal for teachers: worth 2.45% this year, followed by increases of 2.3% in the following years.
    The NUT says the offer represents an erosion of teachers' earnings, and risks adversely affecting the recruitment of quality staff.The NUT says the offer represents an erosion of teachers' earnings, and risks adversely affecting the recruitment of quality staff.
    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%." Ms Blower said: "Erosion of teachers' pay is now firmly on the public agenda as a result of the strike. We have highlighted the case for pay which at least keeps up with the rate of inflation (4.1%)."
    Pay battlePay battle
    Teachers say although pay had gone up in the past, recent wage settlements were causing it to lag again. But ministers say teachers - who earn an average of £34,000 a year - are rewarded adequately, and that parents feel little sympathy for their demands.
    One - Lesley Auger, who has taught 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." The government says teachers' 19% in real terms since 1997.
    But ministers maintain teachers are rewarded adequately, and that parents would feel little sympathy for their demands. During a visit to a school in Kent the schools secretary Ed Balls said: "I think parents across the country will be frustrated and angry and about the strike and many teachers will have the same view - and I share their frustration."
    They called on the NUT to respect the view of the independent pay review body, which recommended the 2.45% pay award. Mr Balls said the government had abided by the findings of the teachers' independent pay review body, which recommended the 2.45% pay award, and he called on the NUT to do the same.
    "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."
    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."
    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 said that 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."Given the importance of education, we should be trying to move to a presumption that teaching unions will not take strike action," he said.