Ahead of the next week, the NUT have delivered an ultimatum to Nicky Morgan to prevent the strike from taking place. The union says Nicky Morgan must tell academies to consider using national terms and conditions when they employ staff In a letter* to Nicky Morgan today, the classroom union makes "one last appeal" to avoid widespread disruption in schools on Tuesday. Last week, teachers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a national strike against funding cuts, deregulation of pay and academisation.  

The NUT’s three conditions to Ms Morgan for cancelling the strike are:

1. Fund schools sufficiently to cover the growing staff costs imposed on them, such as increased National Insurance contributions.
2. Tell academies they must at least have regard to national terms and conditions.
3. Promise meaningful talks to look for a full resolution of the dispute.

Strike action 'not taken lightly'
The strike is due to take place across the country on 5th July, the same day as the KS2 Sats results are returned to schools, after 91.7 per cent of participants in the union’s ballot voted in favour of taking action. The letter, sent from acting general secretary Kevin Courtney, stresses: “No teacher finds taking strike action easy but the situation in our schools needs to be urgently addressed,” said Courtney. “School budgets are being cut to the bone. The effect on children’s education is clear.” “Teachers’ terms and conditions are being deregulated and worsened through the academy programme. Head teachers are spending time on school negotiations which should be spent on education. This is unnecessary, time wasting and ineffective.” Following the result of last week’s , the country has been thrown into a period of uncertainty, many unions want to make sure education is debated and at the top of the agenda. Mr Courtney said: "Now more than ever in these uncertain times we need a properly funded and staffed education system. I have written to Nicky Morgan asking her to take actions that would protect our children’s education. Our country’s pupils and teachers deserve a positive response."