Determined mood as teachers build for action on October 17

Across all the areas building for action on October 17, thousands of debates are taking place, and battles with management fought, as teachers build support for the joint NUT/NASUWT regional strike action. 

Many schools have posted supportive letters or messages to parents explaining why teachers will be striking on October 17. However, compared with previous strikes, it is disappointing to see more schools trying to undermine the action by trying to pressurise staff not to strike or by pressurising support staff to take classes of striking colleagues. However, that pressure is failing. The strength of the strike in building. In fact, where that pressure is being applied, it is more often than not simply making teachers even more determined to make a stand on Thursday.

Reports from across London suggest that there will be a big turnout at the London march and rally, assembling at Malet Street at 10.30 am. The list of schools closing due to strike action in my borough of Lewisham certainly suggests that the action will be well supported. Teachers are determined to send a clear message to Michael Gove to stop his attacks on teachers' pensions, pay, conditions - and on children's education. 

If Gove won't step back, then we must step up that action too!