TEACHERS in St Helens who are members of the National Union of Education are taking strike action for the second time today as part of an ongoing national dispute.

NEU member have seven days of action planned although the union says “only four will impact on schools in St Helens”.

The first took place on February 1 with today the second, and further planned strikes on March 15 and 16.

Patrick White, secretary of St Helens NEU, said to the Star before the strikes that “teachers do not want to strike” and said “for many this will be a very upsetting but necessary action”.

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It is expected “the vast majority of schools” in St Helens are being affected in some way by the actions over the course of the strike dates, whether by closure, or remaining “partly open”, depending on the numbers of NEU members in each school.

Mr White said strikes are taking place because teachers have seen “a huge drop in the value of their salaries of “around 20 per cent” over the last 13 years.

He also said there were concerns over “unsustainable workloads” which “has left schools struggling to both appoint and retain teachers”.

He cited “difficulties there are in recruiting suitable candidates on to teacher training courses” and added part of the dispute is also about “fighting for better funding for schools”.

Mr White added: “Obviously, we want parents on board for this action as NEU members are taking this action not only for themselves but for the pupils they teach and the future of the state education system.”

The Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) said striking teachers are taking action for a “high moral purpose”.

Kevin Courtney told Sky News: “We sincerely regret the disruption to children’s education and parents’ work and home lives.

“We think we’re taking action for a high moral purpose to try and get the Government to invest in this generation of children.”

He added that many children face disruption from understaffed schools or underqualified teachers because “the Government have let teacher recruitment and retention fall to such perilous levels”.