HUNDREDS of parents joined teachers in support of strikes against education cuts while others condemned the action as "ridiculous".

National Union of Teachers (NUT) members walked out in a long-running dispute over school funding, pay and conditions and fears that cuts will increase workloads and cause classes to be bigger.

Thousands joined rallies and marches across the country yesterday including in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings - in action condemned by the government and education Nicky Morgan as unnecessary and damaging.

Hundreds of teachers, parents, union members and children met at Palmeira Square in Brighton and marched to The Level.

More than 100 people also gathered around the Wish Tower in Eastbourne town centre and another rally took place in Hastings.

Rachel Ramaker, who works at Hertford Infant and Junior School, said: "The amount we can do for children is less and less. It is heart breaking. We want more funding so we can do a proper job. The stress levels go down into the children and they pick it up."

Union bosses said there was strong support for the strike and claimed it was being backed by many parents.

Rally supporter Gaby Casemore, whose children attend Hove Park Junior and Secondary School, said: "We want our children to be allowed to flourish creatively and not constantly tested. We want the teachers to have a normal work load where their minds can properly work and not just tick boxes. We want teachers to be able to do what they do best, teach."

Caroline Lind said she was "absolutely behind teachers" for the benefit of children. She said some schools were helping parents struggling to find childcare on the day.

But some complained of the disruption the 24 hour strike has caused them - leading to more than 150 school closures across the county.

Argus reader Jenny McDade said she did not support the strike, adding: "They [teachers] get paid enough and have plenty of holidays. They complain when parents take kids on holiday, yet think nothing of going on strike."

Andy Pollard said it was "ridiculous" and the strike disrupts everyone else who has to take a day off work in the absence of child care, adding: "They need to suck it up and get on with it they chose their career nobody else."

Amy Washer added: "I understand the circumstances teachers are in to an extent but I can also think of better ways to approach this other than striking and depriving children of yet another day out of education. I won't support any strikes due to the immense amount of resources this is wasting."

Others suggested the demonstrations took place during school holidays so lessons were not disrupted.

‘WE ARE MARCHING TO GIVE CHILDREN BETTER EDUCATION’

TO the sound of a beating drum and with the chant of “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts”, teachers, parents and children marched in protest.

Hundreds gathered in Palmeira Square, Hove, and marched to The Level in Brighton yesterday for the National Union of Teachers’ led industrial action.

Banners, placards and flags sporting slogans such as “education cuts never heal”, “education in, forced academies out” and “education, not exam factories” dominated the scene, carried by almost every protester and the sound of whistles pierced the air.

Drivers stuck behind the march honked their horns in appreciation while they waited for Western Road to clear, to the cheers and claps from the group. A police van tailed the group all the way to The Level where, once gathered on The Level, there were speeches from the NUT, Brighton University and College Union, the city’s Labour Party, councillors and parents before songs were sung.

Maggie Morgan, 45, of Brighton, who works at Millais School in Horsham, said: “We are taking this action for the kids. This is about school funding being cut, it is not about our salaries.”

Ellie Wells, 27, who works at Cradle Hill School in Seaford, said: “We are marching to give our children a better education.We need to take a stand now or it will be too late. We need our voices to be heard and this is the only way.”

Jim Smith, 45, an NUT representative for Oriel High School in Crawley, said: “Our art, drama and music departments are being decimated. The only way to fight this is to take this strike action. The creative curriculum is being savaged they can’t even afford sketch books for the new students coming in the next academic year. The only way to fight this is to take this strike action.”