NEW polling from education charity Parentkind shows that parents are supporting teachers in their industrial action, despite disruption.

Striking teachers have had their position bolstered today, as new data reveals that parents and carers support teachers call for an inflation-matching pay increase, despite the impact that strike action may have on them personally.

This comes as 56 schools across Devon were affected by today’s industrial action.

Seven remained closed and the rest were partially closed. Locally, Doddiscombsleigh Primary School is closed. Among the partially closed schools were Decoy Primary School in Newton Abbot, Haytor View Community Primary and Ide Primary School, St Michael’s Church of England Primary School at Kingsteignton and Kingskerswell Church of England Primary School and St Catherine’s CofE Primary School in Newton Abbot.

In polling conducted between January 26 and 31, Parentkind found that:

• 54% of respondents support strike action, whilst only 36% oppose it – these figures come after the National Education Union released their schedule for planned strike action.

• 63% agree that teachers should receive a pay settlement in line with current inflation figures which are currently sitting at around 9%.

• These opinions are despite the fact that 83% expect disruption from the strikes due to take place.

Strike action is taking place today, Wednesday, after the largest education union balloted members on possible strike action, with further action planned in coming months.

More than 90% of responding NEU members voted in favour of industrial action across England and Wales with action expected to impact 23,400 schools. Parentkind’s data has consistently shown that parents want a properly funded education system that meets the needs of the nation’s children. Today’s data shows that parents believe fair pay for teachers to be a crucial part of a healthy and well-functioning education system.

Parentkind's CEO Jason Elsom says: ‘With strike action taking place today across England and Wales, parents will be managing with a varied picture of partial or total school closures.

‘What our polling has shown however, is that despite the inconvenience caused by industrial action, the majority of parents clearly support the action being taken by teachers.

‘As a charity, we hear from parents every day who are working closely with their schools to ensure the best outcomes for young people, and so parents will know very well of the impact of financial pressure on schools and their staff.

‘This data should also provide food for thought for the government as they manage this dispute.

‘The reality is stark: right now, parents support these strikes and they support teachers in their bid for an inflation-related pay rise.

‘Nobody wants schools to be closed and nobody wants children to lose days of learning, and so it’s in this vein that parents across the country want the government and the teaching unions to work together to achieve a fair and lasting settlement to the question of teacher pay.

‘Only then can disruption to children's education be kept to a minimum.’

Find out more about Parentkind at www.parentkind.org.uk

Do you support our teachers’ industrial action? Email [email protected]