Teachers Pay Strikes cause more disruptions to students

Teachers strike on March 15th and March 16th as a response to teachers’ strikes. These strikes are happening as a result of higher demand for teachers’ pay from the government which is underfunding these workers. Many Birmingham schools are being affected and the NEU is issuing warnings for schools to prepare for the lack of teachers.

One of the first pay strikes of the year happened on February 1st, teachers are in a constant battle to receive higher pay. With protests in the Birmingham City Centre, teachers demand the attention of the government to change their laws.

These protests have teachers fight for their rights but parents are concerned about the education of their children. With a lack of teachers, schools risk closing on these strike days and resulting in students missing out on their learning.

Speaking with Secretary Rachael Baxter of NEU (National Education Union) she said: “The longer the government refuse our pay rise, the more disruptions will happen at schools.”

Teacher strikes credited by: Birmingham Live

With the lead-up to A levels and GCSEs, students are at risk of not achieving their grades to go on to further education in apprenticeships and University. With children’s education being sacrificed, the government is even more pressured to raise teachers’ pay.

The average salary for a Birmingham teacher is £33,786. Despite this above-UK average pay, teachers’ salaries fell by 11% between the years 2010 and 2022 according to Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).