Britain's largest teaching union has declared it will consider nationwide strike action amid growing fears that school funding faces severe pressure following the recent Budget announcement.
Strike Ballot Procedures to Begin
The National Education Union (NEU), representing hundreds of thousands of teachers across the country, will hold an emergency meeting this Saturday to discuss initiating strike ballot procedures. Up to 500,000 educators could potentially walk out in autumn next year if the dispute remains unresolved.
The union had been anticipating reassurances in the Budget that an upcoming teacher pay rise would not force schools to make cuts elsewhere. However, no such guarantees were provided, leaving the NEU concerned that schools will need to fund the proposed 6.5 per cent pay increase over three years from their existing, already stretched budgets.
Double Blow for School Finances
Compounding the crisis, the union is equally alarmed by a warning from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggesting schools might face a 4.9 per cent funding reduction to cover special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) costs.
Daniel Kebede, the NEU's General Secretary, expressed profound disappointment, stating the Budget 'offers nothing to an education system running on empty'. He confirmed the union's national executive would meet to decide next steps, emphasising they 'must convince this government to change course – even if that means balloting for strike action'.
Potential Consequences for Schools and Families
Fellow union ASCL, which represents school heads, has issued stark warnings about the potential fallout. They predict such funding pressures could lead to school closures, larger class sizes, and cuts to after-school clubs and curricular provision.
Julia Harnden, ASCL's deputy policy director, told iNews that if funding rates fall in real terms, the impact would be 'even more severe', potentially resulting in the closure of more small primary schools.
The planned strike action would follow previous industrial disputes and could cause widespread disruption, forcing school closures and leaving parents scrambling for last-minute childcare arrangements.
The Department for Education has disputed the OBR's analysis, with a spokesman stating: 'This claim is incorrect – we are clear that any deficit will be absorbed within the overall government budget.' Officials maintain that the projections do not account for forthcoming SEND reforms.
