The two largest teaching unions have announced they will vote on industrial action after the government failed to improve its pay offer, raising the prospect of strikes closing schools and colleges this winter.
The NASUWT union said ballots were being sent to its members, with voting to close on 9 January, while the National Education Union said it would do the same next week after the vast majority of its members said they supported a ballot on strike action.
The Department for Education has offered a 5% pay rise to teachers and headteachers in England for the current academic year but the NASUWT said it wanted a 12% rise to meet the rise in the cost of living. Offers of 5% have also been made in Scotland and Wales.
The union said the ballot came after ministers “failed to engage in negotiations” despite repeated calls to do so. Last week the schools minister Jonathan Gullis said the government would “not budge” over the 5% pay award.
