Live updates as teachers strike across Northampton over pay and conditions
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Teachers at schools across Northampton will be striking today (Wednesday February 1).
The National Education Union (NEU) is the largest in the country and the East Midlands and members have joined in their thousands since the strikes were announced, according to the union.
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Hide AdMembers who are walking out want a fully funded pay rise, which does not cut into existing school budgets.
The union says class sizes are already at a 20-year high as more qualified teachers are leaving the profession due to lower pay and ever-increasing workload.
Teachers will be on picket lines and at rallies throughout the day including in Northampton, in a bid to make their voices heard.
As thousands of teachers are believed to be striking, most Northampton schools will be affected, with many pupils set to spend the day at home completing work that has been set.
Lecturers at the University of Northampton will also be striking.
Keep up to date with everything that is happening with the teachers strikes in Northampton with our live blog below.
Live updates as teachers strike across Northampton over pay and conditions
Rallies incoming
A rally of teachers will be taking place in Northampton town centre later today, following picket lines this morning.
Chronicle & Echo will be in attendance at the rally this afternoon.
The Northampton rally has started
The rally at Northampton Working Men’s Club has begun. Speeches are expected to commence soon.
Anjona Roy takes the mic at the Northampton rally
The Chief Executive of Northants Rights & Equality Council said she was pleased to see so many people in attendance, including from the NEU, the UCU (representing lecturers) and from ASLEF (representing train drivers).
Watch her full speech here:
Rally continues
The mic is now being passed to attendees who are sharing their own experiences and their reasons why they are striking today.
More to follow.
“The entire conversation about being a teacher has changed over the last 30 years"
Evan from Vancover spoke at the rally about how chosing a teaching career has changed over the years.
Watch his full speech here:
