A NUMBER of teachers are back out on strike at De La Salle this morning in an escalating dispute over pay.

In what is the latest of six planned walk outs, members of the NASUWT have taken industrial action following the governing body's decision not to award a discretionary pay increase of two per cent to a small number of teachers who are on the top of the main pay scale.

All teaching staff have been given a one percent rise.

Mick Burrows, the NASUWT national executive member for Merseyside said: "It was very disappointing that having spent hours in ACAS talks the employer simply refused to move on a very straight forward matter.

"There was no need for the employer to ever be in this position if they had simply paid teachers in accordance with their statutory entitlements."

Some parents however have reacted with anger over the strikes.

The school, which remains in special measures, is due to be closed today to all students except years 10 and 11.

The strikes have been strongly criticised by some parents due to the proximity to scheduled exams and with the school being in special measures.

One parent of a year 11 pupil contacted the Star and said: "It is just appalling and it affects all the children in this critical time. We were told they'd have a structured revision programme and my daughter had one lesson.

"I am just left feeling very angry, it is such a critical time. My daughter is in set one but for those that are borderline and relying on this to get into colleges it's a critical time."

She added: "One day I could put up with but we are talking potentially the two weeks in the run up to the exams starting.

"It is just so wrong and for a school in special measures you would think they'd be doing everything they can parents and children."

Another parent added: "The school's in special measures and this strike only involves the top end earning teachers.

"One per cent is more than a lot of people get or have got. I had to take a day off to look after my daughter because of this and now another one on Tuesday.

"They think they've got it tough, try working in the private sector where you're lucky you have a job. Get the school out of special measures and then we'll talk."

However, one wrote: "Good to see some teachers with a backbone, standing up for what is right. Wish more would follow suit."

In a letter to parents De La Salle head teacher John Toal expressed his regret at the strike and stated the school governors did not want to give rewards which "may be perceived to be unfair".