TEACHERS walked out of schools as they staged a fresh strike in a long-running dispute over pay, weeks before GCSE and A level exams.

Members of the National Education Union stood on picket lines outside schools in Colchester today and they will do the same again on Tuesday.

The strikes resulted in the full or partial closures of about 20 schools in north east Essex.

Colchester Royal Grammar School, in Lexden Road, and St Benedict’s Catholic College, in Norman Way, were among the Colchester schools where staff stood on picket lines.

Gazette: Toot to support - NEU members at Colchester Royal Grammar School picketed outside the schoolToot to support - NEU members at Colchester Royal Grammar School picketed outside the school (Image: Steve Townshend)

The strike action comes after NEU members voted to reject the Government’s offer of a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year.

They were also offered an average four and a half per cent pay rise for staff next year following intensive talks with the education unions.

Steve Townshend, who is the union’s strike co-ordinator in Essex, deemed the offer “derisory and insulting”.

He said: “98 per cent of teachers in our ballot voted to refuse the offer. There are more schools picketing in Colchester than before.

“Feelings are strengthening, and we are determined not to give in until we have a sensible offer.”

Gazette: Death by cuts - Teachers at St James' Primary School are calling for more fundingDeath by cuts - Teachers at St James' Primary School are calling for more funding (Image: Thomas Coates)

Special arrangements meant many Year 11 and Year 13 students preparing for exams, however, were able to attend school, avoiding disruption at a stressful time.

“Teachers want to be in the classroom and not on strike which is why the NEU gave dispensation to exam class teachers to cross the picket line and teach their exam classes,” explained Mr Townshend.

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Next Tuesday will see more picket lines mounted outside schools and a rally is expected to be held in the city centre at 11am.

It is currently unknown which schools will close on Tuesday, though the union said it believed most schools are expected to either restrict access to pupils or fully close as a result of the strikes.

The NEU is also expected to announce three more strikes during the summer term.

Casework officer Mr Townshend added: “We need a fully funded offer. Without the funding we will lose support staff and teachers to redundancies as schools struggle to balance the books.

“Our children deserve better.”