Schools Week reporters spoke to striking teachers across England today to find out why they had taken industrial action.
Despite pay being a big issue, it was not the only reason teachers were striking. One teacher said working eight hours on a Sunday to get up to speed on lesson planning was “not unusual”.
Others are worried about recruitment struggles, with schools having to increasingly rely on non-specialist teachers for some shortage subjects.
And general funding shortages – meaning textbooks are “falling apart” and teachers have to pay for basic things like pens – was another big concern raised on picket lines.
