Eight schools in Brixton and 66 of 85 schools in Lambeth were fully or partially closed today as a result of the strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
No secondary schools were closed fully in Brixton, but Hill Mead Primary and St John’s Angell Town Primary pupils were given the day off.
Jubilee Primary, King’s Avenue, Christ Church C of E Primary, Sudbourne Primary, Loughborough Primary and Evelyn Grace Academy were partially affected by the strike.
Police have reported 11,000 people joined the march through central London today.
40 per cent of NUT members turned out to vote on the strike, with 92 per cent of those voting in favour.
Sara Tomlinson, Lambeth NUT branch secretary, said: “We leafleted a few primaries this morning and parent were very positive, only one parent out of 300 said something negative.
“Parents understand what we’re fighting for and that we’re standing up for education, not just pay and pensions.”
Today saw the fifth teachers’ strike under the coalition government, but the first strike by the NUT alone, without other trade union organisations.
David Laws, Schools Minister, said: “The other six major trade unions are not taking industrial action, because they realise that it is bizarre to be disturbing the education of young people and the work patterns of parents when there are talks under way.”
Ms Tomlinson added: “Back in 2011, we had 30 unions striking at once and I think we need to get back to that. People are very demoralised and angry.”
Well done teachers. I support you. You’ll find those who don’t usually failed miserably at school. That or are raving right-wigers.
Disgraceful. “I want my money and bugger everyone else” is these people’s mantra. Again, beyond disgraceful.