OXFORDSHIRE County Council officials were set to meet the Education Secretary Shirley Williams to settle a teachers’ dispute in July 1977.

21,000 people had signed a petition to revoke the council’s education cuts.

The National Union of Teachers organised a mass march and rally of almost 1,000 parents, teachers and children throughout the city centre.

General secretary of the union, Fred Jarvis, said: “The solidarity of members has been tremendous.

“Indeed we have only had one complaint during the course of the strike – and that was from schools outside Oxford city who wanted to be involved as well.”