THERE will be a picket line at Sarum Academy this morning as part of national strike action. 

This week, National Education Union members will be on strike in pursuit of a "fully-funded, above inflation pay rise".

This follows an initial day of strike action on February 1.

Members in the NEU South West region will take action on March 2.

They will be striking simultaneously with members in Wales, the NEU South East, and London regions. Other NEU regions will strike on neighbouring days.

Pickets, with NEU spokespeople present, will be taking place across the region, including at Sarum Academy on Westwood Road, from 7.30am to 8.45am. 

Hannah Packham, South West Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Despite a full month to come to the table with concrete proposals on pay, Gillian Keegan has done nothing to resolve our dispute. At our meeting on 15 February she made no offer. A week later, the Department for Education’s submission to the STRB showed that it was business as usual. It is the Government’s wish to offer yet another real-terms pay cut in 2023/24.

“The responsibility to avert further strikes rests with the education secretary, and she has failed."

Sarum Academy was contacted for more information.