Teachers to strike

Teachers in Rochdale borough are to stage a one-day strike in protest at government pay and pension reforms.

In total, 2,765 schools in 22 authorities will be affected.

The NASUWT teachers' union and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said they had served notice on employers of the walkout on 27 June.

A Department for Education spokesman said the decision was "disappointing" and would disrupt pupils and parents.

Union leaders warned it would be the first in a series of regional strikes over the coming months with a national walkout planned for the autumn.

Schools in the following local authorities will be affected: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, St Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and District, Wigan and Wirral.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "The move to strike action is a manifestation of the anger and frustration of teachers at the failure of the government to seek to address the deep concerns of the profession."

The Department for Education said its reforms would give schools the freedom to reward good performance and are fairer than current arrangements, which see most teachers automatically getting a pay rise each year.

A spokesperson said: "We are very disappointed that the NUT and NASUWT have decided to take strike action, which less than a quarter of teachers actually voted for.

"Industrial action will disrupt pupils' education, hugely inconvenience parents and damage the profession's reputation in the eyes of the public at a time when our reforms are driving up standards across the country.

"We have met frequently with the NUT and NASUWT to discuss their concerns and will continue to do so."