Schools could be forced to cut back on almost all services they provide if the pressures on their budgets continue.
That was the word from teachers on picket lines at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham on the second day of industrial action by members of the National Education Union.
The picket was just one of hundreds across the North East as union members took to the streets as part of a row over working conditions, school funding and wages.
Ella Fairley, QEHS's union representative, explained why she had chosen to go on strike.
She said: "We're definitely striking for the students, for us and for the support staff. There's just not enough money in school budgets anymore.
"We've seen a real-term decrease in our pay of 24% since 2010. We just can't deal with that and we're really feeling it in the classroom too.
"We're lacking in support staff and it is really impacting students. Our class sizes are getting bigger, they're now up to 36 on average and it's so hard to get round to all of them."
Mrs Fairley explained that her husband was also a teacher, and the workload both of them face meant they were like "passing ships" during the week.
She added: "We do it because we love it. We want to be in school, but we know that if we don't take action it will have an impact on students.
"I think the pressures are getting worse. I've been a teacher for six years and it's got worse over time.
"Sometimes your day is over 12 hours with marking, planning, things like parents evening and supporting kids. Teachers aren't just teachers anymore.
"We're seeing people leave the profession. We all have degrees and the equivalent of a master's degree, so you could go into the private sector and earn a lot more than we're getting."
Teachers from Hexham Middle School, which is now at the same site as the high school, were also on the picket line. The school's union representative, Steve Foster, feared schools would have to cut more activities if the pressures continued.
He said: "To put it bluntly, schools don't have enough money to educate kids. The pay rises aren't fully funded so we're going to have to cut.
"This is for the kids. We're facing cuts to support staff, music programmes and after school activities.
"I teach maths, which is a core subject, but I'm struggling to get support staff for kids even in maths. Everything that is not statutory will be cut."
The district secretary of the NEU, Alex Snowdon, said members had received significant support from the wider community - as well as plenty of "honks" from passing drivers.
The walkout is expected to be followed by more industrial action next month if the union's demands are not met. The Government last week offered further talks, but only if today's action was called off.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: "It is hugely disappointing the NEU has thus far refused this serious offer and has not joined the Royal College of Nurses in calling off strikes.
"Instead of sitting round a table discussing pay, the NEU will once again cause disruption for children and families in the North. Children deserve to be in school, and further strike action is simply unforgivable, especially after everything children have been."
The NEU's joint general secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney branded the idea they were unwilling to engage "completely disingenuous" and called for "goodwill" on both sides to resolve the dispute.
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