Headteachers will be balloted on national strike action in a row over pay for the first time in their union's 125-year history.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), told the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference that he has "never heard more anger and despair" from school leaders. NAHT said this is the first time they have held a national ballot for industrial action over pay, after only previously holding regional votes on the issue.
The union has also previously held national ballots for strike action over pensions and SATs-related rows, both more than a decade ago. Speaking at the TUC conference in Brighton, Mr Whiteman said headteachers have lost around 24% on the value of their salary since 2010, and he has written to Education Secretary Kit Malthouse about the ballot.
