Headteachers could go on strike after their union said they will ballot members on industrial action.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said it will hold a formal ballot for national strike action in England for the first time in its history "over the school funding crisis, the erosion of teacher and leader pay and conditions, and consequent staff shortages which are undermining the education system".
The union's executive committee of senior elected members met on Wednesday afternoon and unanimously decided to move to a formal ballot on strike action. The union represents more than 23,000 leaders of primary, secondary and post-16 education from across the UK.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said: "ASCL has never before formally balloted at a national level and this is clearly a very significant step. The fact that we have reached this point reflects the desperate situation regarding inadequate funding, long-term pay erosion, teacher shortages, and the intransigence of a government which we can only conclude does not value the education workforce or recognise the severe pressures facing the sector.
"We have made every effort to resolve this matter through negotiations prior to reaching this point.
“Unfortunately, the government's offer has failed to sufficiently address pay and conditions, and, critically, did not provide enough funding for even the meagre proposal it put forward. Following the rejection of the offer by all education unions involved - ASCL, NAHT, NEU and NASUWT - the government has made no effort to reopen negotiations and has said only that the issue of pay will now revert to the School Teachers' Review Body.
"The conclusion of the executive committee is that the government has left us with no option other than to conduct a formal ballot for national strike action.
"This action is taken as a last resort and with a heavy heart, but we cannot accept the continued damage to education caused by government neglect and complacency."
The ballot will be held during the summer term at a date to be decided and if members opt to strike the union said action would be expected to take place during the autumn term of the next school year.
Schools are already facing disruption due to strike action by teachers in a separate dispute over pay. Teachers who are part of The National Education Union (NEU) in England are next due to walk out on Thursday, April 27 and Tuesday, May 2.
