Teachers could continue strike action into the new academic year.

Schools across Bolton are closed or partially closed today to pupils as  teachers walk out across Bolton and England in the latest wave of strike action over pay.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) walked out in the long-running dispute with ministers being warned that industrial unrest could escalate in the autumn term unless there is movement on teachers’ salaries.

It is the second day of action this week, following Wednesday’s strike.

Robert Poole, a teacher at Sharples School and an NEU member said he believes strikes are the only way to make teachers voices heard.

He said: “The strikes are important because they are a way for teachers to raise awareness of the challenges facing our profession.

“We are facing a real crisis in education, with low pay, excessive workload, and a lack of support from the government.

“These challenges are making it difficult for us to do our jobs effectively and are having a negative impact on the education of our students.

“The strikes are also important because they are a way for teachers to demand change.

“We are calling on the government to invest in education and to address the challenges we are facing.

“We need to see a real pay rise, a reduction in workload, and more support for teachers.

“I am taking part in the strikes because I believe that it is the only way to make our voices heard.

“We need to stand together and demand change.

“I am proud to be a teacher and I want to ensure that our students have the best possible education.

“The strikes are having a significant impact on schools.

“Many schools are closed or partially closed, and students are being affected by the disruption due to the unwillingness of the government to negotiate.

“However, I believe that the strikes are necessary to raise awareness of the challenges facing our profession and to demand change.”

A rally is also taking place in Manchester today, with teachers from Bolton attending

The Government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year (2022/23) and an average 4.5 per cent rise for staff next year after intensive talks with the education unions.

But all four education unions involved in the dispute rejected the offer, and the decision on teachers’ pay in England for next year has been passed to the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB).

The NEU accused the Government of sitting on that pay review body’s report, which it believes recommends a 6.5 per cent increase.

The union called on Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “start listening and start negotiations”.

NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “No teacher wants to be taking strike action and this week’s strike action should not have been necessary.

“The responsibility for it lies at the door of the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary who continue to refuse to re-enter negotiations with education unions to reach a settlement on a fully funded pay increase for teachers.”

He added: “If left unaddressed this action will only escalate in the autumn.

“Four education unions are now balloting for action in the September term. This should speak volumes to Government.

“Far from backing down, the stony silence from the Education Secretary has united the profession as never before.

“It is high time that the Prime Minister recognised that if he wants to have an education system that delivers the very best for the children and young people of this country his government needs to start listening and start negotiations.”

The Department for Education (DfE) insisted a “fair and reasonable” pay offer had been made to the unions.

A DfE spokesman said: “This strike action will see the cancellation of end of term events and important transition days to secondary schools, impacting children and causing more disruption for parents.”

On pay, the spokesman said: “As part of the normal process, the independent School Teachers’ Review Body has submitted its recommendations to Government on teacher pay for 2023/24.

“We will be considering the recommendations and will publish our response in the usual way.”

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