The capital's 5,000 schools are preparing for disruption and closure tomorrow as teachers go on strike over London weighting.
Teachers from the two largest unions, the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union and Women Teachers, are staging the one-day walkout to demand London weighting equal to that of police officers.
This would mean an increase from £3,105 to £6,111 in inner London; from £2,043 to £6,111 in outer London; and from £792 to more than £2,000 in fringe areas.
Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of the NASUWT, blamed "low pay in a high cost city" for the recruitment crisis in London.
"The one-day strike is a call for an increase in London weighting as well as other measures, such as access to affordable housing and help with public transport. These allowances are available to the police to a total of £6,111 and have gone a long way to turning round the force's recruitment problem," he said.
Members of the third largest union, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, last week decided against joining the strike. The vote was 56% against on a 44% turnout.
The NUT is not insisting all members strike, so some might chose to remain in school.
However, teachers from both striking unions who remain in school have agreed not to provide cover for colleagues who are out on strike.
A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We have increased London weighting by over 35% in real terms since 1997. A new teacher in London starting in 1997 has seen his or her pay go up by 50% in real terms.
"Striking will achieve nothing but damage to pupils, parents and teachers themselves."
He added that a good teacher in inner London could expect to be earning £30,966 after seven years experience. They could earn more than £10,000 more per annum in management allowances for taking on extra responsibilities.
The striking teachers will be marching from Lincoln's Inn Fields at 11am. They are expected to arrive at the Oval cricket ground, in Kennington at 12.30am for a rally.
