Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on teacher strikes taking place today and Friday.
“This week’s strikes are a problem of the government’s making through its neglect of education and refusal to resume formal negotiations with unions. Unless the government changes its approach then there will likely be further strikes in the autumn term. The government must commit to a pay award that addresses the teacher recruitment and retention crisis and it must ensure that schools have enough money to afford the cost of pay awards. Ministers have to show that they value the workforce and that the education system is a priority.”