TEACHERS from all over the Dudley borough came together to say ‘enough is enough’ as part of nationwide strike action.

Droves of fed-up teachers packed out an area of Stourbridge High Street by the clock tower to make their voices heard on Wednesday (February 1).

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The demonstration was one of 100 across England and Wales organised by the National Education Union (NEU) whose members voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to take strike action.

Patricia Flannery, a supply teacher in the Halesowen area, said the action is ‘more than just pay’.

She said: “Teachers work well over 60 hours, and we get paid for 37 of them. The workload is unmanageable.

Stourbridge News: Teachers from King Edward VI College took part in the rally.Teachers from King Edward VI College took part in the rally. (Image: Lucy-Ann Jones.)

“There is no funding for schools which will lead to some schools not being able to afford their heating bills.

“Some teachers spend their own money on their classrooms decorating them and buying stationary.”

Patricia, who has worked as a teacher for 43 years, decided to go from full-time to supply in 2015 due to the pressures of the job.

She said she is now horrified to see how tired full-time teachers are.

“Enough is enough, the system is broken,” said Patricia.

Georgia Preston Sell, a teacher at King Edward’s College in Stourbridge said sixth form education has suffered funding cuts and there is no room in college budgets for a pay rise.

Stourbridge News: Teachers from Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge took part in the rally. Teachers from Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge took part in the rally. (Image: Lucy-Ann Jones.)

“We are severely underfunded so it’s not easy to find staff and morale can be quite low in the profession,” said Georgia.

“Sixth form teachers are specialists, and we are part of the local community but yet we have no funding.

“If we do have a pay rise it would come out of the college budget so that’s why we need a fully funded pay rise to come from the government.”

Stourbridge News: Tens of teachers and NEU representatives came together to make their voices heard.Tens of teachers and NEU representatives came together to make their voices heard. (Image: Lucy-Ann Jones)

The regional officer for the NEU, Jackie Sharrocks said the sheer amount of people at the demonstration shows the strength of feeling.

“We would have liked to have had joint action across all education unions but we know we have their support and we are standing in solidarity with other unions taking action today," said Jackie.

“The action is partly about pay as teachers have had on average a seven per cent real term pay cut and it’s even worse for support staff.

Stourbridge News: Teachers held up banners and placards with various slogans such as 'if you value us pay us'.Teachers held up banners and placards with various slogans such as 'if you value us pay us'. (Image: Lucy-Ann Jones)

“For us, it’s about the funding as much as it is about pay.

“More experienced teachers are leaving the profession at a faster rate and on top of that schools have had no additional funding when all their bills are going up.

“It’s a perfect storm and the profession is in crisis – schools are in crisis.

Stourbridge News: The demonstration included speeches from teachers and NEU representatives.The demonstration included speeches from teachers and NEU representatives. (Image: Lucy-Ann Jones.)

“Yes, this is the first time we have taken action, but it’s been bubbling for 12 years.

“It’s not just bout pay, it’s about the future of the profession.”

Jackie says the union are ready to speak to the government at any point, but it must be ‘real talk’ and ‘not vague promises’.

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The Department for Education (DfE) has offered a 5 per cent pay rise to most teachers for the current school year, but the NEU is demanding a fully funded above-inflation pay rise for teachers.

The NEU has announced seven days of strikes in England and Wales in February and March but is hopeful that the government can make an offer to teachers to prevent further planned walkouts.