WE can’t be so naive as to deprive teachers of withdrawing their services in a dispute over pay and workload.

Public sector workers are very good at making their strong views heard, often involving a significant impact on the people they serve.

But news that teachers have voted to strike again in June on dates that may coincide with pupils sitting crucial exams takes it to another level.

They have every right to protest.

And to be fair to members of the NUT they want to discuss their grievances with Education Secretary Michael Gove.

But walking out when students are taking exams that could set them up for the future, does not seem to be a reasonable approach. Surely it undermines the reasons people go into their profession and is simply using pupils as pawns in an industrial dispute?