Teachers strike... what will actually happen in end?!

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My school is striking again next week with others that have teachers from the particular union.

All that is happening is parents are getting massively angry. Kids are missing out. I've used so much holiday on strike days as I have multiple children. I know my anger should not be directed to school but exactly where can I direct it to? I'm pretty sure my MP wouldn't care. He's completely useless.

The government don't seem to care.

I personally think something needs to change in that profession and funding in my area is shocking! It's probably not attracting the best people to the profession and certainly is driving people away.

However, am I right in thinking rishi and co don't care?! Teachers could do 5, 10, 100 days and it seems they won't budge right?

Parents don't seem to care or get angry enough, short of tweeting about it or writing to MP. It isn't really enough to get this resolved.

How do you think this situation will end?

Haha - you realise most of those private tutors ARE teachers, who won't teach in schools because of the terrible conditions and because they can earn as much in three days at home as a week in school? Most of my trained teacher friends, like me, are tutoring now instead as it's the only viable teaching option.

I have a family member teaching science on 28k with a four years first class masters in Physics and then another year PGCE. So 5 years highly skilled training. Meanwhile their partner who graduated with the same degree and didn't go into teaching is already on 50k. And this is another reason why teachers don't stay. It's really NOT a good wage, not for the level of skill needed if you want anyone even remotely qualified teaching your children. This is why schools cannot get maths or science teachers. If your school has one, you're lucky but that isn't going to last long at this rate. Those teachers have so many better, less stressful options elsewhere and once they leave, very, very few return.

So keep going with this attitude if you don't mind there being no teachers in school and you having to pay for any kind of specialist teaching if you want your child to get any GCSEs or A levels. Because that's the way it's going, and fast.

@Makemyday99 so they qualified as teachers but then leave the profession to tutor? And that has no impact? I must say of all the points made in all the replies that seems a funny one to pick up on, particularly as I just told you that is the situation in my household.

Well obviously I know that they were teachers what did you think I thought they were? How is that relevant in any way?

You think teachers care? Frankly, parents and the wider public haven’t been positive towards teachers for a long time. Many parents make the job impossible. There hasn’t been any good will from many parents for a long time. Now parents are shocked teachers don’t really consider their opinions much? Especially when they can’t pay their bills. The country now has the education system it deserves for treating educators the way it has.

@Makemyday99 it's because of people like you teachers are leaving. Honestly your attitude makes me want to cry. Disgusting.

Tbh I don’t care, my kids have long been out of substandard state schools & through college & university and my GC will be educated privately. Nobody is forced to become a teacher, it’s a choice so if it’s that bad then don’t do it rather than moan about it afterwards

Honestly makes me laugh that people are still bothering to strike/moan about the strikes. This government are jot acting on behalf of society and haven't from the moment BJ was elected and basically sacked all the actual Tories who encourage business (and no I'm not conservative and never have been). They are fleecing us in broad daylight. Striking is a bit like asking your mugger to reason with you. Think to yourself, would I plead with the thig who demands my wallet, 'don't you think I should be allowed to keep it', or would you nut the cunt in the face and bellow something nonsensical but unsettling, because I know which I'd be doing.

@Makemyday99, if teachers are so uncaring and crap, why haven't you home schooled? Don't like it, don't send your kids! Simple!

Because you're moaning about substandard teaching in school and teachers wanting more pay. You don't seem capable of making the connection that we are in a vicious circle of more and more parents paying for tutors and more and more of those "substandard" teachers you describe tutoring as a job instead, leaving even less teachers to do the job well in school. This is the way it's going and if parents don't want to be paying for any kind of education they need to wake up fast and stop blaming schools and teachers for something entirely of the government's making.

I am 100% in support of the strikes. They are MEANT to be disruptive.

I'm about to write to my MP (a Tory) to ask him to encourage Gillian Keegan to stop being such a prize twat and get to the table and negotiate.

For those who want to write a less rude letter, are there any templates around? Or key words to include? My concern through this has been that many people will only do something if it's easy. So they will complain to each other in the playground, but unless there's a simple form to fill in (or similar) they won't complain where it can actually have an effect.

I'd love to send my school mum friends a ready-made polite-ish letter for our MP!

Parents do pay for education just not directly. It’s state funded therefore it comes from the tax payer. Seriously you expect me to be concerned about anything other than the standard of my own children’s education, why on earth should I be more concerned about the bigger picture? My only focus was ensuring DC received decent GCSE grades & then went through college & uni & secured good jobs, paid tax & weren’t a burden to society; pay & conditions wasn’t even a second thought

Which backs up the point you miss. Not one for subtlety are you? Education will only be open to those who can pay. That’s the problem. Teachers don’t really care about opinions such as yours - they really don’t.

Good then the feeling is mutual. My DC aren’t even in state education anymore so I care about them even less

@Makemyday99 the way things are going be with jobs... things could change and how you pay for your private school fees could change too.

That is great. One has to then wonder why you spend your days on mumsnet getting angry with teachers. All a bit odd.

Really? They were being reported to be asking for far more, although I can't remember exactly how much as there has been so many different strikes now.

OP I am starting ot be really imapcted too - someone from work is flying in next week to see me and I can't go into the office anymore, so it's pointless. It's changed my view on the importance of school attendance too. I used to be very strict on missing school, but after the covid mess and now all these strikes why should I be worried about taking the kids out for the odd day or holiday when the government, teachers and unions not seem at all fussed about it.

I should add, I am supportive of the strikes from the perspective of the teachers. But the whole mess has changed how I feel a bit.

@Makemyday99 - the ignorant, selfish, disrespectful bile you're spewing is hardly surprising given that you don't read. Maybe you're projecting about your own rubbish teachers?

As a former teacher, and I qualified about the same time as you, I can categorically say that you are paid well whatever you may think. I left in 2014, and still haven't got remotely near the salary I was on while teaching, and in that time I've gained more experience in a different sector and done another postgrad. I still earn just under 2/3 what I did in 2014. I have another friend who left teaching who agrees that teachers are not underpaid. If you don't like it then vote with your feet, I did, but quit trying to hold the country to ransom because there loads of mere mortals out there just as educated and experienced as you but paid nowhere near as much.

I have another friend who left teaching who agrees that teachers are not underpaid.

And do either you or your friend have, e.g. a STEM degree?

Because, yeah, if your degree was in pottery and outside of education you are trying to set up a pottery business then you might miss teaching wages. But that doesn’t mean anything for teaching as a profession.

We were both D and T teachers as it goes.

I am voting with my feet.

I am leaving at the end of the summer and from September I will be in a new job earning more than I am now as a full-time main-scale teacher and working fewer hours. Nothing is perfect. I am sure my new role will have its disadvantages, but I am willing to try something new.

Nowhere in my post have I said I am underpaid. I have said I struggle to pay my bills. That is two different things.

The government have already offered teachers a pay rise so they clearly disagree with what you are saying, don't they? They feel we should be being paid for than we are right now.

Neither do you have any idea what I earn as a teacher. Schools don't have to pay teachers according to any payscales linked to experience anymore, and your pay point is not portable between schools. So you 'categorically' cannot say I am underpaid.

Your message comes across as really quite nasty. Not sure if you intended it that way.

• Paid more than we are right now.
• You cannot say I am not underpaid!

Stupid Phone!

Factual more than anything tbh although there is not less I could care if you perceive it as nasty. Nasty is disruptiing the education of thousands of kids that have already suffered so much through Covid. The pay scales are still transparent and even if you're at the bottom end it's a decent salary. I think the pay offer is the government trying to keep the teaching profession quiet actually rather than acknowledgementof any sort of need.

Thing is, school will be even more shit and stop to function unless the problems including pay are sorted. Children won't have much to "miss out" on if there are no bloody teachers!

Our school has shut to ALL pupils every strike day. Secretly I'm quite happy to have the extra time off with the children.