DOZENS of teachers, support staff and parents from across Bracknell Forest joined the picket line today in the biggest teachers' industrial action strike since the 1980s.

Alongside hundreds of other schools across the country, the group stood in solidarity to send a message about the government’s lack of funding and support for schools.

Teachers have said that the ‘unfunded pay rise’ has massively impacted both well-being of students and ‘eroded the education system.’

Louise Scarr, an English teacher from Edgebarrow Secondary School was out alongside 15 of her colleagues to support the industrial action today (01/02)

She said: “We think that it’s really important to be out here today to explain to people that although there is a pay rise there isn’t enough money for it. Anything we are given is a slight increase, it doesn’t match inflation and it takes away from the children, so our school is worse off overall and it adds to the pressure that we are all under.

“That’s why we think it is really important to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with people who are struggling with these difficult circumstances.

“We were out at the picket line outside our school this morning and felt like there was lots of support. They understand why we had to make this really difficult decision. None of us want to be here today.

“We are all missing our classes and our students, but we wonder where this stops if we don’t make something of a stand today.

Another teacher said: “We try and offer our students everything that we can with the resources that we have however if the government don’t take action those resources are going to get fewer and fewer.

“We pride ourselves on being a school with an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating however if this continues it just won’t be sustainable because we won’t be able to replace resources.

“They have been eroding education over the last 10 years and it’s not on. An unfunded pay rise is just a cut to education.”

A Mum and volunteer at Sandy Lane Primary School said: “I had to come down to support today because I see the effect that lack of funding is having on both the kids and the teachers.

“Whenever there isn’t enough money for basic resources it really affects the morale of the teachers. Even the little things like ‘good work’ stickers for the students make such a difference for the children and how they learn.

“I can also see that because schools don’t have the funding, SEND resources aren’t where they should be any more and therefore the kids are losing out.

“Something needs to change, and we all hope that this will make the government sit up and listen.”