Teachers and support staff in east London went on strike as they continue to push for better working conditions and a fully-funded pay rise from government.
National Education Union (NEU) members in Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Newham were among those joining picket lines today (March 2), culminating in a demonstration and series of talks held in Stratford's Old Town Hall.
Teachers, NEU reps and other school staff members took to the stage throughout the morning to speak on the conditions which they say have initiated the current round of action.
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Sarah Lennon and Hannah Teferi, both teachers at Park Primary in Stratford, said they are primarily striking to fight for an increase in funding into education.
Since entering the profession, with Sarah saying she began at the school in 2004, they said they have witnessed a range of growing issues in their workplace, including reduction in the number of staff and increased workloads.
Sarah emphasised that Park Primary has been "very supportive" regarding the recent strike action.
Instead, she said: "The government needs to put more money in. I know it seems like a real cliche, but the children are our future.
"Teachers don't want to go home feeling they didn't do their best for the children every single day,” she added.
Patrick O'Sullivan, chair of the Newham NEU branch, believed deteriorating real-term wages and conditions over the last 13 years were behind the strikes.
“With the cost-of-living crisis now, it’s really sent the system into crisis, into breaking point,” he said.
Havering's NEU district branch secretary, John Delaney, added that while pay is a key part of the dispute, “many of us feel that the education system is just broken".
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Last week, education secretary Gillian Keegan invited the teaching unions to “formal talks on pay, conditions and reform” on the condition that this week’s walkouts were suspended.
Ms Keegan has called the decision not to suspend the regional strikes “hugely disappointing”.
The NEU has two more strike days planned on March 15 and 16, when staff at all schools in England and Wales are due to take action.
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