As teachers walked out of their classrooms and on to picket lines across Wales, the strength of feeling was clear. The action by teachers saw hundreds of schools shut as many went on strike for the first time.
They were pushed, they said, not just by low pay awards, but corrosive underfunding over many years causing what they described as “a crisis” in schools. Asked whether it was fair on children to be out of classes again after years of Covid disruption, they said they were "striking to save education". You can read more about what strikes looked like across Wales here
Years of underfunding mean pupils are not getting the education they deserve, said teachers as they walked out. A recruitment and retainment "crisis" caused by low pay awards and school funding cuts meant classes are bigger, staff are teaching subjects they are not qualified for and it was time to make a stand.
