One of the major teaching unions has failed to reach the ballot threshold for strike action that could cause major disruption in schools.
Nine out of 10 members of the NASUWT union in England and Wales voted for strikes over pay but the turnout was 42%, below the legal threshold.
The union, which represents teachers and school leaders, had asked its members to back walkouts over the Government's "unacceptable" pay offer to staff.
Experienced teachers in England have been offered 5% pay hikes, with newer staff set to see their wages rise by 8.9%.
But the deal amounts to a real terms pay cut of 5% for most teachers - on top of more than 10 years of squeezed wages - due to double digit inflation, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
The NASUWT has been pushing for a 12% pay award for teachers to resolve these cuts, which it says have damaged morale and fuelled a staffing crisis in schools.
But it missed the strict turnout requirement for the ballot, as with around 42% of those eligible to vote taking part. It must be 50% for the vote to count.
In England, 88.5% of members in state schools and 83.5% of members in sixth form colleges who responded backed strike action.
In Wales, 90% of state school members and 100% of sixth form college members who responded voted for walkouts.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “It is clear that our members are sending a strong message to the Government on the need to address teachers’ pay concerns.
“Whilst the Government’s anti-trade union legislation prevents members in state funded schools and colleges from taking industrial action, we remain in formal disputes with Ministers and employers and will be continuing to take forward our campaigning for a Better Deal for Teachers.
“The readiness of our members to support industrial action demonstrates the anger of the profession and the need for Governments in England and Wales to engage in meaningful negotiations to address the deep concerns of our members.
“Our campaign to fight for the real terms pay awards that teachers and headteachers deserve continues.”
The National Education Union's (NEU) and the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) also balloted their members for industrial action over pay.
The NAHT ballot has closed, with results expected in the coming days. The NEU deadline is on Friday.
The Association of School and College Leaders, is considering its next steps after its members backed calls for a formal strike ballot.
Ministers are expected to issue fresh guidance to heads on what to do in the event of widespread strike action by school staff.
Supporting vulnerable children who were hardest hit by lockdowns is understood to be the Government's priority in the event of walkouts.
A No 10 spokesperson told reporters: "The Education Secretary held a meeting earlier this week, a constructive meeting with union leaders, and I believe that she held a similar meeting today.
"She agreed the importance of working together to avoid strike action that would be damaging to children. We know the disruption that children have already faced in terms of their education due to the pandemic, so we obviously don't want to see any further disruption.
"We continue to want to try and help and facilitate teachers and the unions receive a fair and affordable pay deal.
"The most important thing is that we continue to talk."
