Hundreds of pupils were affected by the action when dozens of schools, including Highfields in Matlock, closed their doors.

Both unions have been offered a 2.45 per cent pay rise, but say this amounts to a pay cut when taking inflation into account.

Ann MacMillan-Wood, assistant branch secretary for Unison Derbyshire county branch, said: “We have got thousands across Derbyshire on strike because they believe in what they are doing.

‘Negotiate’

“If the National Joint Council, the council employers’ side, don’t come back to negotiate a better pay rise, then future disputes will be looked at.”

Unison, the UK’s largest public sector union, is demanding a six per cent or 50p an hour wage increase after claiming its members have experienced ten years of below-inflation pay awards.

Ann, who works at Chesterfield’s St Mary’s school as a part-time kitchen assistant, added: “For people like me who only get £5.77 because the pay is pro-rata, 2.45 per cent on that is rubbish.

“I think the public sometimes confuse us with civil servants who do earn a bit more than us, but a lot of local government public sector workers are low paid - £6 an hour is the average.”

Highfields School was closed to all pupils yesterday and today but staff were still expected to work during the strikes.

Headteacher Ramsey Tetlow said: “The examination period is over now but work does still continue at the school. It is with regret that we had to do it but health and safety had to be our priority.”

Hope Valley College also closed for normal lessons but was open for special events, such as open days.

Across the region council offices and leisure centres closed their doors, with the strike also affecting some refuse collections and burials.

Coffee for charity cash

Bonsall’s Queen’s Head Cafe is holding a pamper coffee morning on Monday from 10am. Proceeds will go to Treetops Hospice.