Government condemns teacher strike

The Government has been embroiled in a row with unions over the impact of a strike by thousands of teachers in a long-running row over pay, pensions and workload.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the NASUWT took part in a one-day walkout across north-west England. The unions insisted the industrial action was well supported and affected "the overwhelming majority" of schools in the region.

But the Department for Education (DfE), which condemned the strike, said its figures showed that more than half of schools had remained at least partially open.

As part of the action, rallies were held in Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Chester.

In Liverpool, hundreds of teachers marched from Pier Head and packed into the city's St George's Hall as they joined together in protest. Boos echoed around the hall when the first speaker at the rally mentioned Education Secretary Michael Gove. Union members made a huge amount of noise in the hall with hand clappers and whistles and waved flags and banners bearing slogans such as "Gove Out" and "Protecting teachers, defending education".

Liverpool geography teacher Alex Ley, who has been teaching for 35 years, said it was one of the most worrying times for teachers that he had ever known and that teachers were "disheartened". Mr Ley, 58, said: "We are told that we have to work longer to receive less in pensions."

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "The support for the action across the North West has been overwhelming. Congratulations to all the teachers who showed such great courage and determination to stand up for standards.

"But this strike action should not have been necessary and could have been avoided if the Secretary of State was prepared to listen to the voice of teachers who are raising deep concerns, not only on behalf of the profession, but on behalf of our children and young people."

The DfE said its figures showed that just over two in five schools (1,214 in total) in the north-west had closed on Thursday. The others had remained fully or partially open apart from a small numbers whose status was not known.

A spokeswoman for the department said: "The NUT and NASUWT have tried to create as much disruption for pupils and parents as possible. In spite of that, thanks to many hard working teachers and heads, more than half of schools in the North West have stayed open for children."