Members of the National Education Union (NEU) in the state sector have voted to accept a 6.5 per cent government pay deal.
In a ballot of teacher members, 86 per cent voted in favour of the proposed rise, with 60 per cent of those eligible voting.
The vote marks a major step towards ending strikes that disrupted schools during the spring and summer terms, when NEU teacher members took eight days of strike action.
School leaders’ union ASCL ended its own strike ballot after its own members voted to back the deal earlier this month.
The NEU ballot comes amid a difficult year, with even staff in a number of independent schools striking over pay.
The 6.5 per cent pay deal from September was what had been recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) report on teacher pay.
The electronic consultation did not include sixth form college teacher members, who have also been in dispute with the Government over pay and funding.
Commenting on the results of the ballots, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the National Education Union, said:
“As a democratic union, the NEU leadership promised members that any pay and funding offer given by Government that warranted their consideration would be put to them. Members have spoken very clearly and in great numbers.
“The NEU submissions to the STRB went a long way towards changing the Government’s position on pay and funding. The strike action taken by our members also shifted the dial, securing the highest pay award for over thirty years. Members should be proud they have also secured extra funding for schools.”