‘SCHOOLS are facing the worst cuts in funding since the 1970s,’ the NUT warned as teachers at every school in the country walked out on strike this morning over savage cuts to education funding.
‘The dire consequences of such cuts have a negative impact on both children’s learning and teachers pay and conditions,’ the union warned, highlighting the fact that class sizes have swelled, resources have been cut and school trips axed.
Teachers around the country are forming picket lines outside their schools from 7:45am this morning.
Later in the day there are marches and rallies across the country.
The London march assembles at 11am Portland place, London W1A 1AA outside the BBC.
The march leaves at 12 noon when angry teachers will march on parliament to a rally in Parliament Square at 1.30pm.
Kevin Courtney, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers said: ‘Teachers do not take strike action lightly.
‘The problems facing education, are too great to be ignored and we know many parents share our concerns.
‘The strike is about the underfunding of our schools and the negative impact it is having on children’s education and teachers’ terms and conditions.
‘The decisions which head teachers have to make are damaging to our children and young people’s education.
‘Class sizes going up, school trips reduced, materials and resources reduced, and subjects – particularly in the arts – are being removed from the curriculum.
‘Teaching posts are being cut or not filled when staff leave. All of this just to balance the books.
‘No parent wants this for their children. No teacher wants this for their school or pupils.
‘With political parties in turmoil since the EU referendum, it is imperative that education is put to the forefront of every election campaign.
‘The problems schools face need addressing immediately.
‘We must not let the education of the next generation be side lined.
‘The message to Government is simple: education cuts never heal. We owe it to this and future generations that Government invests in education.’