Hundreds of schoolchildren stayed home yesterday because of union action, but headteachers showed sympathy for the strikers.

Administrative, security and catering staff brought an estimated 22 primary schools and one secondary school in Barnet to a stand-still as they staged a walkout, demanding the level of London weighting be raised from £1,407 to £4,000.

Friern Barnet School in Hemington Avenue had to close its doors to 750 pupils.

Deputy headteacher Chris Dean said: "Unfortunately we had to close on the grounds of health and safety.

"Personally I think the support staff are undervalued in terms of their pay and conditions.

"They are an integral part of the school and we do not work without them."

The starting salary for a full-time caretaker is approximately £12,000 and for a part-time learning support assistant, it varies between £7,000 and £10,000.

Sheila Abbott, secretary of Barnet Headteachers' Conference and headteacher of Brookland Infant School in Hill Top, Hampstead Garden Suburb, said sympathy for the strikers was widespread.

"In the past their status has not been recognised and I feel their salaries should reflect their increased responsibility.

There is a great deal of sympathy from parents, I have heard no negative comments from them," she said.

Tony Warr, GMB organiser for Barnet, agreed: "Many of the headteachers phoned us and were very sympathetic because they are finding it difficult to recruit classroom assistants on the low wages they are restricted to paying.

"They want to provide the children with the best possible care but they are not going to attract new people into education without paying decent salaries."

October 2, 2002 16:30