Parents were on Tuesday scrambling to find childcare before a double whammy of teacher strikes hits the capital.
Thousands of pupils will stay at home on Wednesday and on Friday as teachers walk out in a “never-ending” dispute that is set to hit London harder than elsewhere.
Experts warned this week’s strike days — which are the seventh and eighth walkouts in London this year — will see more teachers than ever taking part because their attitudes have hardened as the pay dispute drags on.
Education leaders today called for the Government and the National Education Union to get back to the table and bring the dispute to an end.
Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis, which runs more than 50 schools, said: “It does feel never-ending. Something has to happen… Further strikes will be avoided if there is a grown-up conversation which acknowledges that things need to change in our education regime.”
Teachers are calling for above-inflation pay increases which are fully funded and do not come from schools’ existing budgets.
Most state school teachers in England had a five per cent pay rise for the year 2022/23. The Government offered an additional one-off payment of £1,000 and increased the offer for most teachers next year to 4.3 per cent. All four teaching unions rejected the offer so the £1,000 is off the table.
Next year’s pay has been considered by the School Teachers’ Review Body but results have not yet been published. Leaked reports have suggested it is 6.5 per cent.
Education leaders urged the Government to publish the recommendations. They said the hold-up is causing “anxiety” in schools and “frustrating headteachers” who need to plan budgets.
Mary Bousted, of the NEU, said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s “refusal to re-enter negotiations has united the teaching profession in its anger towards a government that is failing to recognise the serious challenges that need to be addressed.”
The Department for Education said: “Any strike action is hugely damaging. We have made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers recognising their incredible work and commitment.”
