‘Save our schools’ – thousands of teachers march through Bristol

Teachers and support staff marched in their thousands in Bristol city centre to protest pay and conditions.

The walkout on Thursday by members of the National Education Union was part of a long-running national dispute.

Unions are seeking a fully-funded, above-inflation pay rise from the government, which called the continuation of the strike action “hugely disappointing”.

Picket lines formed across the city and South West in the early morning, including at Orchard School, Bristol Cathedral Choir School, Willow Park Primary School and Sefton Park Infants & Junior Schools.

From midday, a huge crowd of protesters came together on College Green before they took to the streets to weave down Park Street, through Broadmead and the centre. Chants of “save our schools” could be heard as motorist beeped their horns in solidarity.

One demonstrator was Katy Kelly, a year one teacher at Cathedral Primary School, who told Bristol24/7 she was striking to “give children the education they deserve”.

“We are exhausted and running out of steam. We are all protesting simply because we want to do out job,” Kelly said.

“We want more resources and better funding to be able to give our children the opportunity that they deserve to develop and thrive.

“Also, we want a better work life balance. The more valued we are as a profession, the more likely we can be better educators and we can provide a really solid education for all children.”

Colin Short, a retired teacher who attended his first teacher strike in 1973, said “it’s 50 years later and nothing has changed.”

Sheila Caffrey, a primary school teacher and NEU executive member, said she was striking “to call for funding so that teachers and support staff could feel valued in our work”.

“Schools need to be able recruit permanent staff who stay in their school and communities and support students throughout their education.”

Last week, the government offered to formally talk about pay, conditions and reforms if the union agreed to pause its planned strike action. The union rejected the offer, saying it would only pause the strike if there was significant progress.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said “as a government, we have made a serious offer to the leaders of the National Education Union”.

“It is hugely disappointing the NEU has thus far refused this serious offer and has not joined the Royal College of Nursing in calling off strikes.

“Children deserve to be in school, and further strike action is simply unforgivable, especially after everything children have been through because of the pandemic.”

Bolton is a history teacher at Blaise High School – photo: Betty Woolerton

In response, NEU joint branch & district secretary Thomas Bolton said that government “could end this strike if they wanted to”.

Bolton added: “Schools cannot run their schools on the current budgets they are given. The latest pay offer is a real terms pay cut of five per cent, and that is coming out of existing school budgets, which are already over stretched.

“We need more money into the system to properly fund education, support kids and give them the resources they need and ensure they have a full and diverse curriculum.

“We also need to see a pay rise for teachers and support staff. This isn’t just because it would be a nice thing for staff but because, in this country, we cannot retain enough people in the classroom in the job.

Within little sign of resolution on the horizon, Thursday’s strike comes almost four weeks after the NEU staged its first day of industrial action.

Teachers formed picket lines across the city, including from Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Cathedral Primary School – photo: Mickey Grant

Strikers got creative with their placards – “the last straw” – photo: Betty Woolerton

The march wove around the city centre before reaching College Green – photo: Betty Woolerton

Teachers and support staff in Bristol were among thousands across the country taking action – photo: Betty Woolerton

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read next:

• Teachers’ strike: ‘We can’t run our schools properly’
• BRI nurses continue strike as union issues ultimatum 
• ‘Activism should be part of everyone’s lives’

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