Teachers in England are set to strike again this month after members of the National Education Union (NEU) overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer.

Some 98% of those who voted rejected it – and strikes are now scheduled for 27 April and 2 May.

The government has offered teachers a £1,000 payment for the current school year and an average 4.5% pay rise next year.

Government has gone ‘as far as [they] can’ on pay – cost of living latest

It said the proposal was not fully funded and that between 42% and 58% of schools would have to make cuts to afford it.

The government called it “a fair and reasonable offer” and “a good deal for teachers”.

More than 195,000 members voted in the ballot (a 66% turnout), with over 191,000 rejecting it.

Union bosses, speaking in Harrogate, said they were putting the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan “on notice”.

“NEU members are telling you clearly, and in ever bigger numbers, your offer does not cut the mustard,” said general secretary Kevin Courtney.

“[The offer] does not deal with the acute shortage in our schools – shortages that parents and parents see every single day,” added co-general secretary Dr Mary Bousted.

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Addressing the fact other UK nations have been offered a better package, she added: “Gillian, why do you think teachers in England are worth less than teachers in Scotland and Wales.”

Dr Bousted said the strikes could still be avoided if the government makes a new offer “that is fully funded, matches other rises, which begins to deal with the crisis in our schools”.

The NEU is made up of teachers, further education lecturers, support staff and teaching assistants.

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