‘Zombie’ teachers offered anti-depressants as ‘burnt out’ staff strike over pay

‘I now have to think about my own children - it doesn’t pay to be a hero,’ one former assistant head says as schools close due to walkout

Thousands of schools across England and Wales have shut due to strike action as overstretched teachers describe working “like zombies” for little pay.

The majority of schools have been affected by the first day of walkouts by tens of thousands of National Education Union (NEU) members, according to a snapshot poll by a school leaders' union. Among the 920 schools and sixth-form colleges polled where teachers were on strike, just 11 per cent reported being fully open with all students on site.

Four in five (80 per cent) schools said they were partially open with some students on site and 9 per cent said they were completely shut during the strikes, the survey by the Association of School and College Leaders has suggested. Although some parents only found out on Wednesday morning if their children would have to stay at home.