Teachers in London are being balloted on strike action.

Ballot papers are being distributed today to 41,000 members of the National Union of Teachers throughout London and adjacent areas for a strike on March 14 in protest at inadequate allowances to meet the additional cost of teaching in and around London.

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, told ePolitix.com: "Just as in 1972, schools in London and the fringe areas are struggling to recruit and retain sufficient teachers. Our schools are doing all they can to protect pupils from the effect of teacher shortages but many children are still being denied the high quality education their teachers want to provide because sufficient teachers just cannot be found.

"The rate of teacher turnover in and around the capital has never been higher. Teachers come and stay for a short time, then move on. They cannot afford the high cost of living forcing schools to rely more and more on supply staff to fill vacancies.

"Thirty years ago our case for substantial increases in the allowances was ignored until we took action. The education secretary ignores the plight of schools throughout the capital and beyond by accepting the Teachers' Review Body formula of waiting for an examination of the methodology of funding local government.

"Our pupils, our schools cannot wait that long. A clear message must be sent to the education secretary through support for this strike on March 14."