TEACHERS have moved to ballot members on strike action later this year, the National Education Union (NEU) has announced.

Britain’s largest teaching union warned the Department for Education (DfE) it was ready to take industrial action over low pay, high workloads and funding for schools in an indicative ballot in April.

NEU members have criticised the government’s recommendation for teachers to receive a 6.5 per cent pay increase over the next three years.

Teachers and support staff in English state schools are being asked to take part in the formal ballot opening on October 3 and closing on December 15.

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede called the “unfunded below-inflation pay increases” an “insult” to teachers.

“The cracks in our education system are obvious to all. Schools are running on empty,” he said.

“Pay and workload issues are driving many out of the profession, resulting in a recruitment and retention crisis that is directly impacting on the education of our children and young people.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “This approach is extremely disappointing. Ultimately, it will be children, young people and hard-working parents who will pay the price for any industrial action.

“We’ve taken action to restore teaching as the highly valued profession it should be including boosting pay, and tackling poor pupil behaviour, high workload, and poor wellbeing so more teachers stay on in the profession and thrive.

“We also recently 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.”