Harborough school partially closed due to today's teacher's strike

February's picket-line outside Robert Smythe Academy . Picture HFM

Schools across Harborough took part in industrial strike action today (Wednesday).

It follows nationwide action in February when thousands of schools, including the academy, walked-out amid the ongoing dispute over teachers’ pay.

The schools said they intended to limit the disruption to parents as much as possible.

Teachers have lost nearly a quarter of pay (23 per cent) since 2010, rising to 27 per cent for support staff. And this year, the average five per cent pay rise for teachers offered by the Government, is some seven per cent behind inflation.

As such, the National Education Union is demanding a pay rise of 12 per cent for its members.

It claims that teachers’ pay has fallen by almost a quarter in real terms since 2010, and that the profession faces a recruitment and retention crisis due to low salaries.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan argues the government has already agreed to provide an extra £2 billion in school funding, ‘which will take real-terms spending on schools to its highest level in history’.

According to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, parents of children affected by the strikes can use ‘dependent leave’ when an unexpected problem or emergency such as failed childcare plans occurs.