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Striking northern teachers stage demonstrations

Teachers across northern England joined the strike by the National Union of Teachers (TUC) with rallies staged in major towns and cities including Leeds, Bradford and Manchester

Teachers across northern England joined the strike by the National Union of Teachers (TUC) with rallies staged in major towns and cities including Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.

Among those at the Bradford rally were teachers from Sowerby Bridge high school, near Halifax, which has 1,100 students.

Striker Yvonne Carr is a science teacher there and has taught for more than 30 years.

"We had members on the picket line today and raised awareness for the reasons we are on strike," she said.

"It is not reasonable to expect us to work until we are 68 to get our pension. The government refuses to say how much there is in the pensions pot, but the NUT believes we could retire at 60.

"Our workload has increased by three hours a week since (Michael) Gove became Education Secretary. The increased workload is unsustainable and has led to two out of five teachers leaving the profession in five years.

"We are heading for a massive shortage of teachers."

The Bradford protesters were led by a piper on a march through the city, followed by a rally.

Earlier Calderdale NUT had written to every parent explaining why the strike was taking place.

Ms Carr added: "Another reason we are on strike is that we want a qualified teacher in every classroom. The government is allowing unqualified people to teach in free schools and academies.

Mr Gove "will not talk to use about the changes, only about implementing them."

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