Teachers' strike begins across England as thousands walk out over school 'underfunding'

'Teachers do not take strike action lightly'

Teachers across England will stage a 24-hour strike today in a long-running dispute with the Government over the "underfunding" of schools.

Members of the National Union of Teachers will join rallies and marches after voting by more than 9-1 in favour of industrial action.

The union said its demands were to increase funding to schools and education, guarantee terms and conditions in all types of schools, and to resume negotiations on teacher contracts to allow workload to be addressed.

The union has written to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan calling for "meaningful" discussions to tackle issues it said were negatively affecting education.

Acting general secretary Kevin Courtney said: "The NUT is aware that strike action can be disruptive to parents and carers and for that we wholeheartedly apologise. Equally, teachers do not take strike action lightly. The problems facing education, however, 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.

"Schools are facing the worst cuts in funding since the 1970s. 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 sidelined."