Union officials have warned that more teacher strikes could spread across London as schools face “austerity-level” budget cuts that threaten children’s education.
NEU members at schools in Waltham Forest have walked out in protest over a range of issues, including budget cuts that could result in staff restructuring, job losses and reduced support for pupils with special educational needs (SEN).
Striking teachers say the current funding model is no longer fit for purpose, with mounting financial pressures, falling pupil numbers and worsening staff shortages leaving London schools under immense strain.
Union officials warn the education system is “broken” and say the lack of meaningful negotiations is likely to trigger further local strike action.
An NEU spokesperson told The Standard: "A fragmented education system with weak or non-existent national negotiating is bound to lead to more local industrial action.
“This is especially the case when schools are confronting austerity-level cuts to budgets.
“Industrial action is always a last resort for members but is taken because the outcomes for young people are at the centre of their concerns."
South Grove Primary School was closed to pupils last week, while strike action has also disrupted Henry Maynard Primary School, South Chingford Foundation School, Connaught School for Girls and Belmont Park School, which supports pupils with special educational needs.
The walkouts have divided opinion among parents. Many have backed teachers and their efforts to protect children’s education, while others have expressed concern about the disruption to learning and the challenge of arranging childcare during the strike action.
Thirteen workplaces in Waltham Forest have voted to take strike action during this academic year, NEU figures suggest.
Across London, there have been 26 disputes linked to redundancies, restructuring plans and school closures.
Nationally, 171 workplaces in England have successfully voted for strike action so far this year, up from 117 the year before. However, most disputes are resolved before strikes actually take place.
This Autumn, NEU members will be formally balloted over pay, funding, and workload concerns after earlier indicative ballots showed strong support for strike action.
The NEU has warned it will move to an official strike ballot in October unless the government urgently improves pay and funding to prevent redundancies and rising workloads.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The cracks in our education system are obvious to all. Schools are running on empty. Pay and workload issues are driving many out of the profession, resulting in a recruitment and retention crisis that is directly impacting on the education of our children and young people.
"Enough is enough. Unfunded below-inflation pay increases are an insult. The government is well aware that schools do not have the money to fund them. If ministers insist that any pay rise must be carved out of already decimated school budgets, then it is a wilful rejection of reality. It completely fails to understand what our schools are having to cope with.
"No member wants to be taking strike action. To avoid this collision course the government needs to step up and deliver the properly funded education system our children and young people deserve. It is time to save education."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our recent proposals mean teacher pay would rise by almost 17 per cent across this parliament, equating to a significant real terms increase over the five years. Despite deeply challenging choices about public spending, mainstream school funding will rise again next year, reaching almost £51 billion, to help every child to achieve and thrive.”
