A TEACHER who is taking part in the mass strikes has said the walkout is aimed at helping children in the future.

Rachel Worth, who is head of Key Stage 3 at Southend High School for Boys, said: “My main concern is that under the new proposals the earliest I will be able to retire on a full pension is 67, and in 20 years time a quarter of teachers could be over 60, which cannot be in the best interests of our children and schools.

“I don’t think at that age I will be in a position to do as a good a job teaching children as I am now.

“I have never been on strike before and none of us really want to take action because we know the disruption it will cause, but we feel this is such a strong issue we have to respond to what the unions are asking of us.

“If we do not support the unions as members, then we don’t have a voice.”