Three Havering teachers on why they are taking strike action

More than 1,000 teachers in the borough are expected to strike on dates throughout February and March, after a majority of National Education Union (NEU) members who took part in a ballot earlier this year voted for action. 

In Havering, the strike dates penned in are on February 1, and March 2, 15 and 16. 

• READ MORE: Schools to close as over 1,000 Havering teachers strike
• READ MORE: Education Secretary ‘squandered opportunity’ to avoid teacher strikes – union
• READ MORE: We are not respected or valued, says striking teacher

Negotiations between the Department for Education (DfE) and NEU have so far failed to land a deal, with the offer of a 5 per cent pay rise rejected by the union. 

One of the Havering teachers due to be taking part in the strikes is Hannah Wolf. 

Teaching at Mead Primary School in Harold Hill, Hannah said she became a teacher because she has “a love of children and a fascination with the challenge and process of learning”. 

However, she said she is “devastated” that despite ongoing negotiations, no deal has been agreed. 

“Education is not a business, it is not for profit. We will never have critical, engaged citizens without adequate wages for those who teach these skills.” 

Hannah Wolf has been a teacher for five years, but said she is devastated by the inability to reach a deal with the government (Image: Rebecca Wolf)

Data provided by the DfE said the average classroom teacher in England, prior to the September 2022 pay award, earned £39,400, with the average secondary head receiving £94,900. 

However, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), salaries for more experienced and senior teachers in England have fallen by 13pc in real-terms since 2010, with those in the middle of the salary scale experiencing drops of 9-10pc. 

Hannah said these real-terms reductions reflect a “blanket disrespect for our profession”. 

She added: “I strike to honour my profession and to always, above all, to do the best by my students.” 

Shehla Ahmed, who has been a teacher for nine years, is another of those to have voted for action. 

Currently working at a school in Upminster, Shehla said her primary reason for striking “is because it has affected me, and I’m sure it’s affected a lot of teachers”. 

Echoing Hannah’s concerns about the state of teachers’ wages, Shehla said: “All my hard work, and I get paid less in real-terms now.” 

Shehla added this has had a knock-on effect on retaining teachers, as many look to other professions to increase their income. 

“I have seen teachers leaving this profession within the first three or four years because they can’t survive on the pay.” 

Shehla Ahmed said she is striking because of the affect the real-terms cut to her pay is having on her and her colleagues (Image: Shehla Ahmed)

Georgina Morris is a more recent entrant to the world of teaching, having qualified last September. 

Working at St Edward's Church of England Academy just outside of Romford, she said she is striking partially to raise awareness of what she sees as a devaluing of the teaching profession, but largely in solidarity with her fellow peers. 

“Supporting the strike is making sure everyone gets a fair wage for what they are doing,” she said, adding: “If not now, when? It will just continue to get worse and worse.” 

Georgina Morris, a teacher at St Edward's School, said action is necessary to ensure a fair wage for all teachers (Image: Georgina Morris)

John Delaney, Havering district secretary of the NEU, said: “Our members have been pushed to the edge. They are already struggling to survive and now are being asked to take another real-terms pay cut of 7pc or more.  

 “Why should these conscientious educators who dedicate themselves to teaching our children have to come to work worrying if they can afford to pay the rent or mortgage or if they can afford to put the heating on at home as they mark the children’s homework?” 

Education secretary Gillian Keegan described the strikes as “hugely disappointing”, saying they will have a “significant impact on children’s education”.  

To get the latest news and features direct to your inbox, sign up for one of our newsletters here.

“With talks ongoing on a range of issues, including around future pay, workload, behaviour and recruitment and retention, it is clear that strikes are not being used as a last resort. 

“I have been clear today that unions do not need to strike to meet with me. I also reiterated my call to union leaders to ask their members to let head teachers know if they intend to strike, helping schools to minimise the impact on children. 

“I will continue doing everything possible to protect children’s education.”