‘We are in an absolute crisis’: teachers gather in Camden on strike action day

Called by the National Education Union, the industrial action from February 28 to March 2 saw more than 200,000 teachers walk out in protest over poor pay and lack of funding for state schools across the country.

NEU president Louise Atkinson, Gospel Oak Primary School head teacher John Hayes and parent activist Madeleine Holt were among the key speakers.

Mr Hayes, who has been a teacher for over 40 years, said he now has to work two jobs to be able to cover his living costs as pay rises over the years have not kept pace with inflation. Between 2010 and 2022, teacher’s salaries fell by 11% in real terms, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

He said: “This is the most dire state I have been in and seen the schools in.”

He also claimed that a decade of underfunding has led to increased redundancies at Gospel Oak.

The Government announced a 5% increase in teacher’s salaries in 2022 for most state schools, but this put more burden on the school’s own budget.

Mr Hayes added: “What they (the staff) are trying to achieve for these kids, we could only really achieve with the right level of investment, the right level of staffing, which we don’t have.”

Ms Atkinson described her struggle to hire specialist advisory teachers for students with additional needs due to lack of funding.

She said: “Going in every single day was crushing. I genuinely care about the job that I do… I felt like I was failing those children. I didn’t fail these children, the Government failed them”.

Ms Holt criticised the Conservative government’s attitude towards state education. She said: “You only have to look at the make-up of the current cabinet. A majority of them went to private schools and continue to send their children to private schools.”

Many parents and students also showed up armed with banners and flags to show their solidarity with the striking teachers.

Claire Flaxen, whose daughter studies in year four, said: “The teachers have kept everything going despite cuts after cuts. We are very fortunate that our kids education have’t been affected, but that can’t be at the cost and wellbeing of our teachers.”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan invited the NEU for formal talks on February 21 on the condition that the strike be called off. The union however dismissed it, stating there was no substantial grounds for cancelling the strike.

The Department of Education also recommended a 3% pay rise for experienced teachers in 2023-24 to end the deadlock, but the union is demanding an above-inflation deal.

If a resolution is not arrived, the next set of strikes for all eligible members of the NEU in England and Wales are scheduled to take place on March 15 and 16.