Teachers threaten to ballot on strike action as early as summer term over expected cuts

Sunday's emergency motion at the National Union of Teachers' annual conference is almost certain to be passed by conference delegates

(PA)

Teachers are threatening to ballot on strike action as early as the summer term over what they expect will be dramatic cuts in school budgets over the next year.

An emergency motion to be debated at the National Union of Teachers' annual conference in Harrogate on Sunday warns local councils are already planning education spending cuts of up to 10 per cent.

Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the NUT, said: "You can expect serious consequences for education. You have to think there will be redundancies for school staff from that.

"School support staff will be threatened and there will be cut-backs to the curriculum. This can't be right is the argument we're making."

Already sixth-form colleges are warning they will have to reduce subject options for A-level as a result of funding for 16-year-olds and above not being protected by the Conservatives pledge to maintain funding at its present level only for five to 16-year-olds.

The NUT motions commits the union to negotiating with the incoming government to try and get a commitment from it to restore the cuts in both teachers' pay and to school budgets over the past five years. (Getty Images)

However, whichever party (or parties) ends up in power after the election, cuts are looming, teachers' leaders warned.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have pledged to maintain funding in real terms but the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned this will not be enough to cover increased pupil numbers because of a rise in the birth rate, increased national insurance and pension contributions and pay rises for staff - which are expected to be higher than they have been under the Coalition Government's pay freeze for public servants for the past five years.

Sunday's motion is almost certain to be passed by conference delegates. In fact, the only question mark is whether it will be strengthened to include a stricter timetable for industrial action.

The motion warns: "Despite a growing shortage of school places, particularly in the primary sector and a looming recruitment and retention crisis (figures published by The Independent earlier this week revealed only 62 per cent of trainee teachers are still in the classroom a year after qualifying), the Coalition Government has prioritised funding for its ideologically driven academies and free schools programme)."

It cites figures unearthed by public spending watchdogs the National Audit Office which show that £241 million was spent on 42 new schools opening in areas where there was no need for extra school places. Figures also showed that 83 per cent of free schools had spare places.

"We can't see that other than as a wasteful priority - to be putting capital into schools where they are not needed," said Mr Courtney.

The NUT motions commits the union to negotiating with the incoming government to try and get a commitment from it to restore the cuts in both teachers' pay and to school budgets over the past five years.

Leaders of the National Union of Teachers believe they will need a fresh mandate for action if there is a change of government at the election. (Getty Images)

If that fails to be forthcoming, they will prepare and ballot for a national campaign of strike action - holding discussions with other teachers' unions as well.

The motion also declares support for local strikes in schools and colleges which may be faced by particularly severe cuts.

The union has held two days of strike action over the past five years to protest at cuts in members' pay and pension and over their workload. Surveys say the average teacher can work up to 60 hours a week.

However, leaders of the NUT believe they will need a fresh mandate for action if there is a change of government at the election.

Mr Courtney said the union would be seeking the support of parents for its action campaign - which will include non-strike actions such as demonstrations and rallies. "It will be a terrible state of things if these cuts happen," he added.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said the situation ranked as an emergency as many councils had indicated what the extent of the cuts would be in the past few weeks.

The Conservatives have promised to keep funding at its present level for five to 16-year-olds in schools if they win the election. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they would raise it at all levels in line with inflation.

The Greens, the Scottish National Party and plaid Cymru are all seeking an increase in public spending - including on education.