TEACHING staff across Devon were on  picket line duty today (Thursday) as part of a national dispute over pay .

It is the second day of regional walkouts by the National Education Union (NEU) after teachers previously took strike action in Devon on February 1.

Among those taking part locally were teaching staff from Teignmouth Community School who formed a picket line outside the school at 8am this morning.

The NEU is taking action to call for above inflation pay increases, and wanting schools to get extra money to ensure pay rises do not come from existing budgets.

Union district joint secretary Mike Gurney said: ‘We have had very strong support for the strike, both nationally but also in Devon and we have seen a growth in membership.’

‘Teachers have had their pay cut by over 20 per cent since 2010 and that is why schools cannot recruit and why recruitment targets were missed by 40 per cent for secondary teachers.’ 

Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan invited the teaching unions to formal talks on pay, conditions and reform" on the condition that this week's walkouts were suspended.