Parents join striking teachers on picket line

Scores of concerned parents have gathered on a picket line in solidarity with striking teachers.

So far, 15 days of industrial action have been carried out at Colebourne Primary School in the Hodge Hill area of Birmingham since 7 January and parents joined the latest strike on Thursday.

It comes following a dispute between members of the National Education Union NEU) and Birmingham City Council over pay, with the union alleging that teachers have been "denied pay progression".

The local authority has said it is "supporting efforts to reach an agreement that enables pupils to return to their normal routines as quickly as possible".

Disruption caused by the strikes has led to more than 130 parents, carers and guardians joining together to form a Parent Voice group.

Imtiaz Begum, from Parent Voice, said: "The protest today is to apply pressure for Birmingham City Council to actually do something because the kids are really lacking in teaching hours.

"All they're doing is colouring and being on their iPads all day from 09:00 GMT until 15:30 with an occasional activity of watching a video or making a rocket. This isn't really acceptable.

"It's going to cause a massive gap in their learning that will be difficult to fill in if things continue as they are."

Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, has weighed in on the situation to try and help resolve the dispute.

He pleaded with teachers to "please suspend industrial action and return to work so children's education is not further disrupted".

He told followers on Facebook: "The council has accepted mistakes were made in the original process. It has reinstated the original pay policy, clarified the assessment criteria and offered further independent review and support. It has also entered the collective conciliation process in good faith with Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

"However, the council cannot simply overturn a pay panel decision in a way that would create a two-tier promotion system, as this could be legally challenged by other teachers across the city."

The city council told parents it understands the situation was upsetting and it was "continuing to work constructively with school leaders and trade union representatives to find a resolution".

A spokesperson added: "We respect the right of parents and staff to express their views peacefully, and we ask that all gatherings outside the school are conducted safely and in a way that minimises disruption to children and the wider community.

"Our priority remains the wellbeing and education of pupils. We will continue to support the school in keeping families informed and ensuring that any necessary arrangements are in place during this period of industrial action."

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