Teachers in England move a step closer to striking

Teachers in England will vote on whether or not to go on strike if the government stands by its pay offer for the next school year.

The National Education Union (NEU), England's largest teaching union, says it will hold a formal ballot if the offer remains "unacceptable", or if no extra funding is announced.

The government has recommended a 2.8% pay rise for teachers and expects most schools will need to make "efficiencies" to fund it.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said "any move towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible".

The NEU wants a higher pay rise for teachers, and for the government to announce more money so that schools do not have to pay for it from their existing budgets.

The announcement from its conference in Harrogate is a warning to ministers, but a few things would still need to happen in order for teachers to walk out of England's schools.

The union will need to reject a final decision from the government on teacher pay - including both the size of the pay rise, and whether or not there will be any additional funding for it.

If it does launch a formal ballot, enough members would need to vote and support strike action. That ballot could open for several months, meaning any strike action would likely take place in the autumn term at the earliest.

Parents in Harrogate were torn about the prospect of strikes. Katie said either she or her husband would have to take annual leave to look after their children if schools closed.

Baris, whose 10-year-old goes to a special school, said he supported teachers' right to strike but he was concerned about school closures because it was "vital" for his son to attend full time.

"He wouldn't cope well," he said. "It would really affect us badly."

Alessia, a hairdresser and mum of two, said there was "far too much" pressure on teachers.

"I would have loved to have been a primary school teacher," she said.

"But talking to so many clients who are teachers, [and hearing] their opinions of it, although they do it for the love of the job and the children, it's really just not a job that I think anyone would want any more."

Additional reporting by Branwen Jeffreys and Hope Rhodes.