Teaching unions have accused the government of stonewalling and refusing to enter into negotiations, as teachers in England and Northern Ireland started a fifth day of strikes on Thursday.
Dr Mary Bousted, a co-head of the National Education Union, apologised to parents facing another day with their children not in school, but said teachers were striking for the future of education. She said there were strike exemptions for vulnerable children, and for children in years 6, 11, and 13 who were preparing for exams.
