Teachers' strike shuts South Yorkshire schools
Dozens of schools across South Yorkshire are closed today as teachers strike over pay conditions.
Dozens of schools across South Yorkshire are closed today as teachers strike over funding cuts and pay conditions.
Members of the National Union of Teachers are walking out over what they say are the worst cuts to school funding since the 1970s.
It's part of a national day of action - the NUT argue schools are struggling with increased class sizes, fewer subject choices and cuts to school trips.
Toby Mallinson is the Sheffield Joint Divisional Secretary of the NUT - he told Hallam that teachers are facing increased pressures at school:
"It's deeply frustrating and demotivating for many teachers. There's also massive changes to the testing regime, which is making many teachers throw in the towel. There's a huge crisis in retaining teachers at the moment. The profession is losing a huge amount of talent."
"We regret taking national action - we feel we have no choice. We are aware that obviously some parents will be upset by that, but we are even more aware that there are many thousands of parents across the country who support us".
**
Over 90% of teachers balloted by the NUT voted in favour of strike action.
Toby says strike action can be avoided, but that the government needs to get back around the negotiating table:
"The government has to prioritise education, they need to fully fund schools. We'll call off the strike action if they guarantee that over the next year they fully fund schools and have meaningful talks with us. It won't resolve the dispute - there are a lot of issues to discuss - but it'll be a start".
But the government insists that it is supporting schools.
Nicky Morgan - the Education Secretary - says that the government is investing more than previous governments in education:
"To suggest we aren't prioritising school funding is disingenuous. The significance we place on education is demonstrated by the fact that we are investing more than any previous government in our schools."
"This year the schools budget will total around £40bn, an increase of around £4 billion since 2011-12, so it is now the highest it has ever been. Additionally, the schools budget has been protected in real terms going forward".
"The national average teacher pay is £37,800. This week's school workforce figures showed that teaching continues to be an attractive career with more teachers in our schools than ever before - 15,000 more since 2010 - demonstrating how many people relish the prospect of a career where they can transform lives every day".