teachers

An additional 20 million are state and local employees, the majority of whom are teachers, along with police and fire fighters.

Giving teachers in Northern Ireland the pay rise unions have asked for is "simply impossible," according to the education minister.

“That’s why rules limiting phone usage in a consistent manner for all in a given setting like schools are more likely to be effective than individual approaches by individual parents, or even individual teachers.”

Several ambassadors have resigned, and hundreds of civil servants and 2,800 teachers have signed letters condemning the decision to put EU accession on hold.

In September, most teachers in schools and academies received a 5.5% pay reward, but sixth form colleges were not included in the pay uplift.