Worcester teacher says staff leaving 'in droves' over falling pay
Dozens of schools across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be completely or partially closed today as teachers strike again over pay
Last updated 5th Jul 2023
Children across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are facing another day off as teachers walk out again in a row over pay.
Education union leaders have called on the Government to urgently publish the School Teachers' Review Body's (STRB) pay recommendations.
The hold-up is causing "anxiety" in schools and "frustrating headteachers" who need to plan budgets, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has been told.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) in England stage fresh strikes on Wednesday and Friday this week.
Sports days, school trips and transition days for pupils are set to be disrupted amid the walkouts in an ongoing row over pay.
In a joint letter to Ms Keegan, education union leaders said the Government's refusal to "properly negotiate" with them over pay risks "dragging out the current dispute".
Colleen Johnson, a teacher from Worcester, said the government needs to act and listen as staff are leaving the industry in droves as pay falls in real terms.
She said a fully funded, above inflation pay rise is needed and teachers are more determined than ever to achieve a fair pay deal.
In Worcestershire, Kidderminster’s Baxter College, Worcester’s Stanley Road Primary and Droitwich’s Witton Middle School are fully closed due to the industrial action, with more partially shut.
In Herefordshire, few schools have publicly said how they are affected, but Hereford Academy will only open for pupils in year eight.
Mrs Johnson said that teachers are also worried about the state of education in general, with concerns over school funding.
A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: "Any strike action is hugely damaging. We have made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers, recognising their incredible work and commitment.
"Thousands of schools received significant additional funding as part of the extra £2 billion of investment we are providing both this year and next.
"As a result, school funding will be at its highest level in history next year, as measured by the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies)."