Teachers' strike: The reasons why

The National Union of Teachers' claims school funding is being cut leading to bigger class sizes and an increased workload for teachers.

The Union says:

• Increased National Insurance and pension payments put on schools by the Government mean schools have to pay out 5% more on salaries.

• At the same time the cash per pupil funding given to schools has been frozen.

• For every 20 teachers employed a school has to find the equivalent of one extra teacher's salary to give to the Treasury.

• The Government is not allowing school budgets to keep pace with inflation.

The Government says:

• The schools budget is the highest it has been this year at £40 billion.

• The budget has gone up £4 billion since 2011-12

• Only 10% of teachers have actively backed the vote to walk out.

• The schools budget has been protected in real terms when other areas of spending are having to be reduced in order to control the public finances.