School leaders' union members have majorly rejected the Conservative Government's increased pay offer - as dispute continues over compensation for teaching staff.
Overall, nine in ten members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) snubbed the proposed deal during an online consultative ballot - with almost four in five (78 per cent) prepared to vote for industrial action should an offer be rejected.
The union's executive now prepare to meet to discuss and agree on the next steps, which could include holding a second ballot on subsequent strikes.
The PA News Agency reports that schools across England face five days of teacher walkouts during the upcoming summer term, as well as potential action in the autumn - with the National Education Union (NEU) set to re-ballot members over the ongoing pay dispute.
Delegates at the NEU's annual conference yesterday voted in support of a three-day strike come June or July. It comes after the teaching union revealed on Monday that members would be participating in two further days of strikes come April 27 and May 2, following on for 98 per cent of its members responding to a consultative ballot voted against the Government's recent pay offer.
Following a period of intensive talks, the Tories offered teachers a one-off lumper of £1,000 for the 2022/23 year, as well as an average 4.5 per cent pay increase for next year (2023/24). Just last week, Paul Whiteman - who is the General Secretary for the NAHT - said that industrial action would be 'necessary' should members downvote the latest 'inadequate' offer of compensation.
Overall, some 64 per cent of NATH members across England responded to the consultative ballot - with 90 per cent of the total voting against the offer. 92 per cent of whom said that the offer was unaffordable, and that they simply do not have room in their budget to be able to afford the proposed offer for the next academic year.
After the vote, Mr Whiteman said: “This is a conclusive response to the Government’s offer. It has been judged inadequate and unaffordable. Our members do not recognise the Government’s calculations on the affordability of the offer, with the vast majority of head teachers and school business leaders saying they could not pay the rise from their existing budgets.
“This is a very clear stumbling block and one the Government must listen to and solve if we hope to bring this dispute to an end.”
He continued: “The Government must now come back to the table and solve this dispute. To do otherwise would be to stick two fingers up to a dedicated profession whilst at the same time turning their backs on children.”
January 2023 saw a ballot of NAHT members failing to meet the mandatory 50 per cent turnout threshold required to activate strike action, however, the NAHT has suggested that it may well move to a second formal ballot to consider it once more.
Members of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and NASUWT teaching union have also been recently pressed for feedback over the pay offer - with 87 per cent of the ASCL rejecting. The turnout for the consultative ballot came in at 56 per cent.
The ASCL's executive committee will meet after the Easter holidays to consider their next steps going forward.
A Department of Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: “After costing children almost a week of time in the classroom and with exams fast approaching, it is extremely disappointing that the NEU are re-balloting for more strike action up until Christmas this year.”
She added: “The offer was funded, including major new investment of over half a billion pounds, and helps tackle issues teachers are facing like workload. NEU, NAHT and ASCL’s decision to reject this offer will simply result in more disruption for children and less money for teachers today.”
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