save our schools pay up

you have to recognise you can’t continue as you are.

“The challenges are unmanageable. Children deserve qualified teachers and those staff need to be paid properly – and support staff too. I hear from Welsh colleagues that recruiting support staff is even more challenging because of the requirement by some schools that they can speak Welsh. ”

‘Tons of support since 7.30am’

At Whitburn Church of England Academy, in Sunderland, rep Jane Wilson told Educate there were six picketers, who were joined by 18 supporters. In nearby South Shields, maths lead and rep Lisa Burrows said: “We have had tons of support – much more than we thought we would. We are on a busy road and there has been constant beeping since 7.30am.”

In the north west, about 30 members joined the picket outside Oasis

MediaCityUK, an academy in Salford, where rep Chris Bailey reported a “joyful and good-spirited” gathering, powered by coffee provided by the school’s community hub.

John Connolly, deputy head at William Brookes School in Shropshire, said he was striking because he is very concerned about the recruitment and retention crisis (see page 21).

He and another senior leader were among the 12 picketers. “One of the guys has got his van, so we are making tea and coffee in that, and support staff who are in school brought us some cake out,” said John.

Marching across the land

Led by NEU joint general secretary Mary Bousted, teachers joined a London march and rally, one of a number of demonstrations that began at 11am across the nation to protest against the Government’s proposed antistrike laws.

In solidarity with striking train drivers in ASLEF, civil servants in the PCS and university staff in the UCU, members were among 40,000 people who marched from Portland Place to Whitehall. A sea of NEU flags, banners and homemade placards was carried by predominantly young, female demonstrators and first-time strikers. London primary head teacher John Hayes, who closed his school for the day, took part, describing the atmosphere as “absolutely fantastic”.

‘Today has been brilliant’

In Leamington Spa, NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney joined the picket line at Myton School, where around 30 members were on strike. Three hundred people later attended a rally in the town.

NEU vice president and Warwickshire district secretary Emma Rose told Educate: “Today has been brilliant. We had a really