Opposition grows among teachers to 6.5% pay offer in England

Union members are concerned about funding for the below-inflation increase and the lack of a long-term agreement

Concerns over how the rise promised to teachers in England will be funded, and dismay at the lack of a long-term agreement on pay, has stirred opposition to the government's offer among union members.

The deal announced between the government and England's four school teaching and leadership unions would mean an across-the-board 6.5% pay rise from September, with a slightly higher increase for new teachers to bring their starting salary up to 30,000 a year. Mid-career teachers' annual pay would go up by about 2,500 to 3,000.