Teachers back on strike in West Midlands

Teachers in the West Midlands from the National Education Union are taking back to the picket lines today for a fresh wave of strikes.

There will also be several rally's throughout the day at Centenary Square in Birmingham, Bancroft Gardens in Warwickshire and the Council House in Coventry.

National Education Union have warned that strike dates could last until Christmas.

Pauline Browne, National Education Union West Midlands Regional Secretary said:

“Gillian Keegan is failing to address the multiple problems damaging our children's education - around teacher recruitment and retention problems, and inadequate school funding. She has been told by the profession – and a significant majority of the profession – that her pay and funding offer is not good enough. 98% of NEU members rejected it, on a two-thirds turnout.

“Her response has been to deny the way the wind is blowing. She is refusing to return to the negotiating table. It is this inaction, this silence which has left NEU teacher members in England’s schools and sixth form colleges to reluctantly take two more days of national strike action in the coming days.

“The NEU regrets any disruption to education and has put in place measures to ensure GCSE and A level students have a full program on those days, but what parents know is the disruption to education on a daily basis. This is the result of government policy on pay, on workload, on funding, and its serial neglect of a recruitment and retention crisis. Pupils are now regularly taught by staff who do not specialise in the subject they are asked to teach, or by a series of different teachers for the same subject across a year. Schools are cutting subjects and facilities in order to make ends meet, reducing opportunities for young people. Support staff posts are disappearing, leading to less one-to-one time.

“Despite our efforts, this Government has shown no understanding of just how serious the situation is in our schools and colleges. The pay and funding offer has only served to unite the profession against the Government. That is why other unions are moving to ballot. This coming week, NEU members are acting to make the Government see sense and improve its offer to teachers.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We have made a fair and reasonable teacher pay offer to the unions, which recognises teachers' hard work and commitment. Next year, school funding will be at its highest level in history - per pupil, in real terms.

"We know schools are facing increased costs like energy and staffing, and are providing an extra £2 billion in each of the next two years to cover those costs. As a result, school funding is set to rise faster than forecast inflation in both 2023/24 and 2024/25."