HUNDREDS of Greater Manchester schools were returning to normal today after a teaching strike closed classrooms across the region.

Around 500 schools - half of the total number- were fully or partially-closed by the one-day action over pay. The National Union of Teachers, the largest teaching union, staged the national strike after rejecting a 2.45 per cent pay rise - arguing it was well below household inflation at four per cent.

The government argues it needs to keep a tight rein on pay to stop inflation spiralling.

Other public service workers - including college lecturers and civil servants - were also on strike over pay yesterday, with a number of classes cancelled and government offices closed.

Around 700 teachers and other workers marched through Manchester city centre as part of the national protest.

Jackie Wheble, 38, a teacher at Pictor special school, in Timperley, near Altrinham, said parents had been supportive of the strike.

She said: "A lot of parents are public sector workers as well and know from their own experience how difficult things are becoming.

"I think 15 years ago when I started, teaching was not a great paid profession. There have been improvements but now things are creeping back."

A number of junior teachers also spoke of the impact of recent rises in living costs.

Barbara Lane, 26, a teacher at Woodheys primary, in Sale, who earns £23,000, , said: "My mortgage is up for renewal and I'm finding it difficult to get a replacement.

Responsibilities

"I thought that after three years of teaching I would be in a better situation especially after taking on extra responsibilities."

Geraldine Redhead, 24, a primary teacher at Astbury St Mary's, in Congleton, Cheshire, also started teaching three years ago but is still paying off a £16,000 student debt.

She said: "We are being offered a 2.4 per cent rise but the interest in my loan is nearly five five per cent

"I want to be a teacher because I love it but a lot of people who trained with me have already left."

Science teacher Anton Robinson, 25, who works at Blessed Thomas Holford College, in Altrincham, earns £20,000 but was trying to settle his £12,000 student loan.

He said: "It is just going to put people off from the profession in the future."

Other meetings took place in Bolton and Oldham.

The dispute closed 8,000 schools across England and Wales.

The British Chamber of Commerce estimated that the action cost £68m in lost working hours, plus parents who had to take time off for childcare.

NUT leaders have not ruled out further strikes although further ballots would need to take place. Lecturers say they will consider further strikes pending the outcome of a decision with college bosses next week.

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