The leader of one of the country's largest unions joined striking teachers as they marched through the streets this afternoon.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, walked alongside picketing school staff as they made their way through Brighton to show their anger over the "crisis" in schools up and down the country.
This was the sixth day of strike action by members of the NEU this year as they campaign for improved funding and pay.
Mary said: "I am always humbled when I am with members of the union and it is fantastic to see so many in Brighton.
"It's not easy for them to sacrifice a day's pay for this so it shows how important the situation is.
"They are striking because our schools are running out of teachers and money.
"The education of children is being damaged every day."
The teachers also walked past the Royal Sussex County Hospital in solidarity with members of the Royal College of Nursing. Nurses had planned to strike today but the High Court ruled the action unlawful.
Mary, who has been involved in education for more than 40 years, said this level of strike action was "unprecedented."
The government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise for next year after intensive talks but this was rejected by the teaching union.
The demonstration caused disruption to traffic as the protesters made their way through the cut centre and Kemp Town.
Hundreds snaked through North Street, St James's Street, Bristol Road, Eastern Road, before ending in Queen's Park with speeches from teachers and union representatives.
Classes across the country were called off with many children spending another day at home as teachers walked out.
Ruby Taylor, nine, and Jake Taylor, 11, joined the march with their father Adam Taylor, a teacher at Queen's Park School.
Ruby said: "I made a cardboard box to wear and I decided to turn it into a thing so I could strike.
"I think it's stood out a lot and it is great to see people support us and beep their car horns."
Also at the march was Labour MP for Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle.
He said: "The public sector workers need a decent pay offer. We've got a crisis in schools and other sectors where people are leaving in droves.
"Unless we negotiate a decent pay deal for teachers, then we will lose the future."
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