A TEACHER has explained the difficulties of teaching in an underfunded classroom as thousands walk out of schools today demanding better pay.

Lily Biggs has been teaching for the past two years and said many of the students she qualified with had quit the profession.

"We can't afford glue sticks, paper, and school trips, and it is not fair on the students," she said.

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National Education Union (NEU) members voted in overwhelming numbers to take strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise.

They hope the money will better fund the teachers and improve the classroom environment and the future of learning.

Ms Biggs added: "I think a lot of the children are aware of these issues, well especially in my class, and they are saying 'Why don't we have glue sticks? Why can't we go on these trips?'.

"You can't answer that - it is just out of our hands and it is just so frustrating that you cannot offer the best care for your class."

Cars honked in favour of the strikes as they passed the NEU picket line on Midland Road at 9am this morning (April 27).

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Pink and orange NEU flags were waved, and chants for better pay were sung.

"We are massively overworked and underpaid," said Ms Biggs.

"I think everyone in the teaching profession has considered leaving at some point.

"You do it because you love it and love working with children, and I love my job, but I am working 55-hour weeks, and I'm not being paid anywhere near that."

Only a handful of schools declared their partial closures ahead of today but many were unsure of how many teachers would be walking out.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Any strike action is hugely damaging.

"We have made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers recognising their hard work and commitment.

“Thanks to the further £2 billion we are investing in our schools, next year, school funding will be at its highest level in history.”

The next NEU strike will be on Tuesday, May 2.