School closures, picket lines and a major rally: Everything we know about tomorrow's teacher strike

Thousands of teachers could be set to walk out in Greater Manchester tomorrow for the second strike day this month. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) in the North West are among those taking industrial action on Tuesday (February 28) amidst what it calls a recruitment and retention 'crisis'.

It's the second day of strike action involving the NEU in Greater Manchester, which has more than 12,000 members across the region. As with the previous strike day on February 1, many classrooms will be closed, as some schools stay shut fully while others welcome certain year groups and vulnerable children only.

Picket lines will form outside several schools in the region, before a major rally through Manchester city centre in the afternoon. It comes as NEU members call on the government to provide a fully-funded, above inflation pay increase, that doesn't see existing school budgets shrink.

READ MORE: Death of firefighter who fell over railings into the River Irwell after work night out was an accident, coroner rules

Peter Middleman, North West regional secretary of the NEU, said: "Our members have broken through the threshold for ballots. They have bravely taken strike action already, and our membership has grown by 49,000 since the ballot result was first announced. The strength of feeling is all too clear. Enough is enough.

"The government’s education policy is driving the current recruitment and retention crisis. A fully funded, above inflation pay rise would make a significant difference. It would ensure children are taught by those who specialise in the subject they are delivering, and stop the brain drain which leads to pupils seeing a revolving door of teachers over the course of a year.

"We regret having to