Bay of Plenty teachers stepped up their protests against the Government's education policies taking to Tay Street beach in a visually united front this afternoon.

About 600 Bay of Plenty teachers took to the beach holding anti-Global Education Reform Movement placards while forming the phrase ‘stand up for kids protect our schools' and writing messages in the sand to protest their anger.

Hundreds of teachers protest on Mount Maunganui beach.

The teachers were to have marched up Mauao but have respected the iwi decision that it would not be appropriate.

The beach protest followed a paid union meeting at ASB Baypark, where 800 Bay of Plenty teachers discussed the progress on negotiations for their collective teachers' agreement and the Government's education policies.

The Government's agenda includes the introduction of charter schools, competition rather than collaboration in teaching and learning and national standards and league tables.

Teachers say they are concerned about the direction of the Government's education policies, which they say will destroy New Zealand's highly valued quality public education system.

New Zealand Educational Institute Bay of Plenty field officer Rachel Chater says the meeting was sombre with most people 'really frustrated” the Government is not respecting teachers at all.

'People get it and they are angry and the fact that so many turned out was great.”

She says to see 800 teachers, out of the 880 in the region, signals they are prepared to take further action.

'It was such a huge turnout here.

'I was absolutely stoked. We are standing together saying that we aren't happy.”

Te Puke Intermediate School teacher Stephen Knightley joined the protest to make a stand and ensure children's education came first.

'I was there to make a stand against the government and make sure that the matter is heard for our children and our students.

'We trying to show us united as one. We are not just teachers we are parents and others. We are trying to stand strong.

New Zealand Educational Institute Te Puke branch secretary Trish Hunt says one of the major issues teachers are angry with is the proposal for performance based teaching where instead of working together for the development of all students, teachers will be forced to square off for better pay.

'The children's learning will be narrowed down and only a few children pass in that narrow approach.

'At the end of the day we are here for the children. We are not number one in education in the world, but we are number five and working on it.”