Education Strikes Back

Over 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be closed and over 2,000 partially closed on Thursday when two teaching unions stage strike action.

In Medway the following schools will be closed

Primary schools

• Byron Primary School
• Halling Primary
• Thamesview Junior School. Please note – Thamesview Infant School will remain open.
• Riverside Primary
• Hempstead Infant School
• Gordon Infant and Junior Schools
• Sherwin Knight Infant School
• St Margaret's Junior School
• Featherby Juniors
• Burnt Oak Primary School

Secondary schools:

• Thomas Aveling School
• Silverbank Park

Listening to Conservative MPs in the Commons today was utterly sickening as one after the other queued up to attack hard working teachers at PMQs. I watched as the Etonian Cameron, not one for poor schooling himself, scoffed as Tory MP after Tory MP launched into the Teacher trade unions in what was clearly Tory MPs at their best, braying at those less fortunate.

Many reading will remember when they were a child being taught by a good teacher. The type of person who was not in it for the money, was humble, friendly and had a genuine passion for improving the lives of young people.

I had many such teachers; they were true gems.

These strikes are unncessary. But remember they were not caused by teachers out to get one on the government. The fact is Conservatives have deliberately chucked fuel on the fire with this strike, by goading people in practices not seen since the dark days of Margaret Thatcher. They have not been serious in negotiations because they know that divide and rule, between private and public, will sadly pit person against person. It is brazen and atypical Toryism.

What Tories do not get is that this type of behaviour alienates them from the mainstream majority of people. Many of whom do not believe strikes are right, but also get the fact that people are not usually driven to such ends without a reason. Deep down this strike damages the Tory attempt to de-toxify and will do them more long term damage.

If there are riots tomorrow on the streets of London, another set of people will have hatred for the Tories seared into the fibre of their being. Another sub-section of Society pilloried for the actions of the elite at the top.

Many of the polls today in the right wing media show that there is a majority anti the strike. What they do not show is that amongst parents and those that use schools the mindset is a lot more favourable. Mum's and Dad's are being hit by this government just as much.

I expect a few Conservative MPs across the UK to be using the media to highlight their work in schools. Expect some to volunteer on the 'front line' as if it was the Blitz.

Except it isnt. This strike is because Conservatives in government wanted it, they goaded it, and they have got a fight which will keep parents at home.

Pause for thought for one second.

Today, in what was probably a very sparsely attended Employment Matters Committee meeting in Gun Wharf, the true Tory appreciation of teachers was seen. They claim to care for education, for class sizes and for good quality State Schools (as if Cameron knows what that is) but they dont.

Have copied above the true Tory cuts to teachers in Medway, so that when you see Tories moaning about 'lazy NUTters, or Trade Unionists' tommorrow you just realise that actually, some of the nicest and most humble of people are being attacked by the same people that have no interest in good state schools or fairness. Instead pricing out all but the wealthiest with eye-watering tuition fees and the cuts to the EMA allowance for poorer pupils.

If you were fooled in thinking that Conservatives care for education - look at the reality on the ground tomorrow. Cuts to pay, staff and pensions means poorer teachers and poorer outcomes for pupils.

That is your child.