Teachers consider strike action to secure above-inflation pay increase and reduce workload

The National Education Union (NEU) launched an indicative ballot today (February 28) asking members if they would be prepared to walk out over concerns in the system.

NEU general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said the ballot would run until April 17 and went on: "Schools are running on empty. Expecting schools to fund a 6.5% pay increase over three years from existing budgets is simply not possible. The Treasury has made itself a laughing stock by claiming there are still efficiencies to be made.

"Chronic underfunding from successive governments has led to the severe crisis in our schools. Old equipment and broken furniture. Battered textbooks. Years of missed targets in recruitment have driven up workload, as have the numbers leaving and not being replaced. A failure to properly fund our schools also means fewer teaching assistants and larger classes."

The Department for Education (DfE) has recommended teachers receive a 6.5% pay increase over the next three years, which unions have criticised.

In the ballot, NEU members will be asked if they reject this proposal, and whether they would be prepared to take industrial action to secure an above-inflation pay increase, reduce workload, and get sufficient funding to back these and prevent redundancies in schools.

Last month, an NEU survey found seven in 10 teachers believed their school did not have enough funding to meet basic provision for pupils. The NEU, which is the largest teaching union in the UK, announced it would hold an indicative ballot in November following the autumn budget.

Teachers were awarded a 4% pay rise for the 2025/26 academic year, following 5.5% in 2024/25, and 6.5% in 2023/24 after the NEU went on strike. The National Foundation for Educational Research has found the recent increases have brought teacher starting salaries back up to 2010/11 levels in real terms.

However, the growth in teacher starting salaries between 2010/11 and 2025/26 was lower than average earnings growth over that time.

A DfE spokesperson said: "It is extremely disappointing that the NEU has opened an indicative ballot when the independent pay process is ongoing. Unions should engage with this process rather than making threats.

"Our latest pay proposal would mean teacher pay would rise by almost 17% across this parliament – well above inflation.

"We have just set out a once-in-a-generation plan to improve the life chances of children in all corners of the country – in particular those with SEND – and all of us have a role to play in making it reality."