NATIONAL Education Union (NEU) teachers will walk out tomorrow (Wednesday) in the first day of strike action.

The industrial action across England and Wales is over pay and conditions.

There will be picket lines in Hexham and Ponteland as part of the action which will see some schools close either in part or in full.

READ MORE: https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/23288838.16-year-old-accused-stabbing-holly-newton-appear-court/

Beth Farhat, regional secretary for the NEU, said: “The Government cannot expect strikes to be averted unless it brings forward concrete proposals for increasing pay.

"Experienced teachers have seen 23 per cent real terms pay cuts since 2010. Given the current cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation, this is clearly an unsustainable situation for our members. The Government appears to have nothing to say to them.

“As well as allowing the profession to haemorrhage talent, the Government has missed its own targets for recruitment by an enormous margin and has done so for many years. Any sensible government would by now have started to ask themselves why.

“Our members are taking a stand for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise because the profession cannot go on like this.

"Parents know the consequences of persistent underfunding, both for their school/college and for their child. This strike should not be necessary and we regret the disruption caused to parents and pupils, but our aims are in the interests of everyone in the education community.”

Schools: 

Hexham Priory School - Closed 

Queen Elizabeth High School - Open only for Year 11, sixth form and children deemed vulnerable or with critical worker parents

Prudhoe Community High School - Open only for Year 11, sixth form and children deemed vulnerable or with critical worker parents

Full list at: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Document-store/School%20admissions/School-strike-closures-2023.pdf