HUNDREDS turned out to support striking teachers at a regional rally to protest against what they say is a reduction in education funding.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) organised the Durham City rally after members voted to strike over concerns about the consequences reduced funding will have on children’s learning and teachers’ terms and conditions.

As schools closed across the North-East and North Yorkshire,Education Secretary Nicky Morgan branded their action as “unnecessary” and “harmful”.

Chanting, waving flags and teachers carrying placards filled Durham Market Place after a march from Millennium Place.

Speaking at the rally, Mike McDonald, regional secretary of the NUT, said more than 6,000 new members had joined the union since last Thursday.

He added that the Government was freezing funding per pupil and imposing higher National Insurance and pension contributions which would cut the value of funding by at least 10 per cent by 2020.

“Real term cuts in funding will have major effects on schools and teachers, whether academy or maintained. They will further erode terms and conditions, increase workload and impede pay progression for teachers.

“Without more money and the protection of national pay and conditions, things will get worse much faster for teachers and children.”

Speakers at the event included teachers Bob Webb, from Yorkshire, Sarah Kilpatrick, from Gateshead, Daniel Kebede, a special school teacher in North Tyneside and Steve Flintoft, a primary teacher from Scarborough.

Ms Kilpatrick, an art teacher, said: “I know the reason we are officially here. I know we are on strike because of terms and conditions.

“I also know the real reason we are here. It’s not for us, it’s for the children we teach and it’s for our own children.

“We are here because the children we teach are missing out on what their education should be, what it has been in the past and what it could be in the future.

“We are seeing the end of art in our state education.”

Other speakers included Jenny Veitch, a supporter of the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign against SATS, education activist Susan Coles and Dave Hopper, secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association.

Messages of solidarity was also read from Helen Metcalf, from Unison on behalf of Durham’s teacher’s assistants and Anne Swift, NUT national president and North Yorkshire head teacher.

Ms Morgan said: “The significance we place on education is demonstrated by the fact that we are investing more than any previous government in our schools. This year the schools budget will total around £40bn, an increase of around £4 billion since 2011-12, so it is now the highest it has ever been.”