Striking teachers are failing the kids they are supposed to help… they should find another job

JUST what lesson are the nation’s children likely to learn from their striking teachers right now?

That turning up to school isn’t important? That education doesn’t matter? That money is more important than ­principles?

As pupils prepare to take the GCSEs and A levels that will shape their whole futures, tens of thousands of members of the National Education Union have swapped the classroom for the picket line in their long-running pursuit of a bigger pay rise.

Thursday’s strike, the latest in a series that started in February, would be marked “F for fail” under any circumstances.

But given that our children have endured years of devastating Covid-related chaos and disruption to their education, it’s pretty unforgivable.

Of course the majority of teachers are hard-working and face huge challenges in and out of the classroom. And they should have the right to strike.

But any educator worth their salt should be desperate to connect with these long-suffering students and get their young lives back on track.

Surely most of them chose the job because they want to improve children’s prospects and wellbeing.

Sadly, that simply does not appear to be the case right now, and I fear that they have been horribly misled by union bosses.

The NEU, representing 300,000 members, called strikes running up to early July because, they say, the 4.5 per cent rise plus £1,000 bonus they have been offered amounts to a “real-term pay cut”.

Like many public sector workers, they cite the current double-digit inflation rate, claiming that since 2010 their wages have fallen by almost a quarter.

Regrettably, real-term pay cuts are being experienced by almost everyone right now. In the private sector, too.

It is undeniably difficult.

But the only way to fix this problem is to sit tight and hold our nerve, in the certain knowledge that supersizing everyone’s salary will drive inflation far higher and make us all poorer in the long run.

And forcing parents to take time off to care for children who should be in school isn’t doing the economy any favours either.

The fact is, many people are worse off than teachers. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was lambasted for saying teachers were not badly paid, but the truth is they earn more than the UK average.

Starting salaries, mostly for those just out of university, are around £28,000, rising to £34,000 in London.

And the prospects are excellent. Headteachers are among the top ten per cent of earners in the country, with the average salary for a secondary school head at £94,900.

Teachers also benefit from job security, clearly defined career paths with rapid ­progression and ten weeks of holiday a year.

They also receive a fantastic 23.6 per cent employer pension contribution, while almost half of private sector employees receive less than a sixth of that.

Meanwhile, our schools are in crisis. There were 140,000 "ghost children" who were severely absent - meaning they missed at least 50 per cent of possible school sessions - in summer 2022. During the pandemic what was provided for many children who did make it to online classes was pretty patchy.

Some pupils lost between one and two years of formal ­education as a result of the pandemic. On average, a pupil who started in reception in September 2019 will have spent just 671 of 756 days of term time in the classroom. That’s 85 days lost.

Those prolonged absences during lockdown did something to all of our mindsets too, it seems. It eroded the sanctity of the school contract and triggered an explosion of truancy.

This year, on any given day, almost 350,000 pupils are reported to be absent from school with no authorised reason. That’s roughly 2.3 per cent of all pupils.

For secondary pupils, it rises to 3.4 per cent.

Compare this with an average rate of 1.3 per cent before the pandemic and it is clear we have a problem.

But then, when so many teachers are happy to desert their classrooms, is it any wonder that pupils aren’t bothering to turn up?

Which is why teachers who aren’t committed to educating their students should find another job, one that doesn’t involve letting down a whole generation of children who need all the help they can get.

Bravo, Michelle

I’M so full of admiration for Michelle Heaton, who this week marked two years of sobriety.

The brave Liberty X singer previously admitted she didn’t go for a day without booze for three years before she checked into The Priory in April 2021.

Posting a snap on Instagram of her outside the rehab centre, Michelle told fans that when it was taken she was “bewildered, confused, sad, sick and very frightened”.

Even though her decision was triggered by an intervention from her mates and must have been one of the hardest things she has ever had to do, I am guessing it’s one of the best too.

She looks so different now – bright eyed, bushy tailed and full of life and hope, right.

It must have been a hard post to share but she did so to encourage her followers to reach out to those who might be suffering.

Bravo Michelle!

I hope that sharing your story encourages and inspires people who have issues with alcohol to get help.

Hats off to Kate

I LOVED the pictures of Kate abseiling with Wills this week on their whirlwind visit to Wales.

She took to the challenge with a twinkle in her eye, proving again what an excellent sport she is.

Just last month the Princess of Wales was pictured administering first aid in full camo while visiting the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

She’s clearly part-princess, part-action hero.

Before Kate descended on the abseil, her husband joked: “Come on then, are we going to abseil or stand around talking?”

They have such clear chemistry and William’s stability shows the value of having a wife who supports you, puts the country first and always has a smile on her beautiful face.

What a thoroughly modern princess.

Meg's poised

IT seemed as if Meghan had disappeared from public life.

The Duchess of Sussex was nowhere to be seen during her husband’s book promotion.

But she was just preparing for her big comeback, as we learned this week that Meghan, has signed up with William Morris, the most powerful talent agency in Hollywood.

Apparently, she is focusing on “film and television production, brand partnerships, and business-building”.

I guess that means more Netflix series, more Archewell content and possibly a few executive producer credits.

And she’s already back in the public eye – popping up at a basketball game in Los Angeles with Harry.

It seems we are about to see a lot more from her.

Fan of Latex factor

TALK about red hot. You’ve got to hand it to Amanda Holden for looking stunning in a skin-tight latex dress.

The Heart Radio host wore the eye-catching outfit to promote the station’s Make Me A Millionaire competition.

Forget that it was only 7am. Forget that someone had to help her squeeze into it.

And forget that some people (unkindly) said she looked like a Mini Babybel cheese.

I thought she rocked it.

At 52, Amanda has the figure of a 20-year-old, the self-confidence of a 30-year-old, the sass of a 40-year-old and the wisdom of a 50-year-old.

She is the total package.

Cheers Jerry

FAREWELL to Jerry Springer, the legendary US talkshow host, who died this week aged 79.

For a whopping 27 years he hosted the Jerry Springer Show, which revelled in its weird and wacky guests.

Who could forget the woman who broke the sex record or the man who married a horse?

You may have loved Jerry. You may have loathed him.

But one thing is undeniable – and that is the fact he changed the face of broadcasting.