Teachers set to strike in another blow to Britain’s struggling economy

CANARY WHARF, U.K. - March 18, 2013 - PRLog -- www.keyconsultancy.org.uk

Two of the largest teaching unions are taking action against wages, workload and pensions as of summer term. Key Consultancy, based in South Quay, canary Wharf, find out why.

Reports last week established that by 2014/2015, a further 256,000 school places will be needed in the United Kingdom due to the recent ‘baby boom’. A rise of almost a fifth in live births has caused extreme pressure on schools, with one in five schools at full or over capacity. “If teachers are expected to manage groups over 30 already, with added pressure, more work and longer hours to keep up with the extra pupils, as well as this to increase in the next year to be expected, it comes as no surprise they are striking to get noticed” says Hicham Mouden, Managing Director of Key Consultancy.

It is not that teachers are being ignored, recently an extra 81,000 primary school places were created to help with the increase in children, however with the amount of classes with over 31 pupils having doubling since 2007, it clearly is going to take a lot more than 81,000 places. “Something needs to be done, or this time next year we are going to have a lot of frustrated parents struggling to find a place for their child, a lot of frustrated teachers with too many pupils per class, and the whole structure could fall to pieces” says Emma of Key Consultancy.

Plans are being set in place to prepare and supply schools for 2014, however huge doubts are felt as the demand is so high. “We are not talking a school here and there, there are nearly a quarter of a million places needed as soon as next summer, which means more teachers are needed, mores schools are needed as well as funds and a rise in wages” says Hicham if Key Consultancy.

With the huge strain of costs, as well as the extremely high numbers expected, two of the United Kingdom’s biggest teachers unions, which make up almost 9 out of 10 teachers, are adamant on striking unless their voices are heard. “A plan and structure needs to be set in place sooner rather than later, or this situation could escalate” says Emma of Key Consultancy.