Union claims victory as ministers agree to fully fund pay rise for teachers in England

National Education Union welcomes news that schools will not have to partly fund increase from their own budgets

The UK's biggest education union is claiming a significant victory after the government bowed to pressure and agreed to fully fund a forthcoming pay increase for teachers in England in a sudden U-turn.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) were due to vote in a ballot for strike action next month over the government's recent pay offer which provided for a 3.5% increase from this month, with an additional 3% from next September.