This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26737474

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
National teachers' strike: Schools shut across Wales National teachers' strike: Schools shut across Wales
(about 2 hours later)
More than 13,000 teachers have gone on strike affecting hundreds of schools across Wales. More than 13,000 teachers from hundreds of schools across Wales have gone on strike in a row over changes to pay.
The row involves teachers belonging to the NUT teaching union who are protesting against the UK government's changes to pay and conditions. More than 460 Welsh schools will be partially closed and nearly 300 completely shut in the action which also involves teachers from England.
A new performance-related pay structure and tougher pension package is planned. Teachers in the NUT union are protesting against the UK government's changes to pay and pension terms.
More than 460 schools will be partially closed and nearly 300 completely shut as a result of the action and parents are advised to check council websites. Despite the Welsh government having power over education in Wales, pay is controlled by the UK government.
As a result of the action and parents are advised to check council websites for information about their children's schools.
While some schools will have to close completely, most secondary schools will be open for pupils studying for their GCSEs and A-levels.While some schools will have to close completely, most secondary schools will be open for pupils studying for their GCSEs and A-levels.
The strike was called after a row over a new performance-related pay structure and tougher pension package planned by the UK government.
The UK government's Education Secretary Michael Gove has said that introducing performance related pay would be a way of raising teaching standards.
The idea is designed to bring automatic pay rises to an end, with schools given the flexibility to offer higher salaries to their best teachers.
But the fear is, with budgets so tight, it would be difficult to reward the best teachers without penalising those who are struggling.
Union action
"I don't think anyone can accuse the NUT of taking this strike action lightly," said NUT Wales secretary David Evans, who stressed that earlier planned action has already been called off twice."I don't think anyone can accuse the NUT of taking this strike action lightly," said NUT Wales secretary David Evans, who stressed that earlier planned action has already been called off twice.
"Unfortunately teachers across Wales really do feel as if they are left with little alternative."Unfortunately teachers across Wales really do feel as if they are left with little alternative.
"In many cases they are not simply fighting for a fair deal for teachers, opposing the unfair pay and pension's raids they have faced, but are standing up for the very nature of education services on offer in our communities."In many cases they are not simply fighting for a fair deal for teachers, opposing the unfair pay and pension's raids they have faced, but are standing up for the very nature of education services on offer in our communities.
"No teacher wants to strike."No teacher wants to strike.
"The individuals doing so will be sacrificing a day's pay, but it is a decision based on securing the long-term sustainability of public education in Wales and the UK.""The individuals doing so will be sacrificing a day's pay, but it is a decision based on securing the long-term sustainability of public education in Wales and the UK."
Raising standards The other big teaching union, the NASUWT, has walked out alongside the NUT in the last two national strikes but will not strike on Wednesday.
The other big teaching union, the NASUWT, has walked out alongside the NUT in the last two national strikes but will not be striking on Wednesday.
UK education secretary Michael Gove wants to change the pay and pensions of teachers.
He has argued that introducing performance related pay would be a way of raising teaching standards.
The idea is designed to bring automatic pay rises to an end, with schools given the flexibility to offer higher salaries to their best teachers.
But the fear is, with budgets so tight, it would be difficult to reward the best teachers without penalising those who are struggling.
The UK government said the strike action would damage children's education and would be unpopular with parents.The UK government said the strike action would damage children's education and would be unpopular with parents.
A spokesperson for the UK government's Department of Education said: "Parents will struggle to understand why the NUT is pressing ahead with strikes over the government's measures to let heads pay good teachers more.A spokesperson for the UK government's Department of Education said: "Parents will struggle to understand why the NUT is pressing ahead with strikes over the government's measures to let heads pay good teachers more.
"They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and talks have been taking place weekly."They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and talks have been taking place weekly.