The National Education Union (NEU) will hold an indicative strike ballot over pay, after branding the government鈥檚 planned rise an 鈥渋nsult鈥� to the profession. Members will be balloted on their 鈥渨illingness to take industrial action鈥� if ministers do not 鈥渃ommit to a significant and fully funded鈥� increase beyond what has already been proposed. This comes after the Department for Education told the School Teachers鈥� Review Body (STRB) a 2.8 per cent pay award 鈥渨ould be appropriate鈥� for 2025-26 last month, but that most schools would have to find efficiencies to fund it. general secretary Daniel Kebede said: 鈥淭he current proposal of 2.8 per cent is not sufficient to even start to address the crisis in recruitment and retention.聽聽 鈥淭he suggestion that an unfunded pay award can be paid for by making 鈥榚fficiencies鈥� is an insult to a profession who have already endured 14 years of austerity.鈥� Fears schools will cut staff Daniel Kebede Kebede added that no leader 鈥渨ill be able to identify efficiencies without cutting staff or resources or both鈥�. In its evidence to the STRB, the DfE stated 2.8 per cent 鈥渨ould maintain the competitiveness of teachers鈥� pay, despite the challenging financial backdrop the government is facing鈥�. At the budget in October, the department said the 拢1.3 billion of additional 2025-26 schools funding, as well as continuing to fund the impact of this year鈥檚 pay award, would also have to go towards next year鈥檚 rise too. It comes after teachers were awarded a rise of 5.5 per cent this year and 6.5 per cent last year. The IfS , with earlier career teachers less affected because of recent large increases to starting salaries. The indicative ballot will take place at the beginning of March. Teachers will be asked 鈥渁bout their willingness to take industrial action if the government do not commit to a significant and fully funded pay rise above what has currently been outlined鈥�. If they show a willingness, then the union鈥檚 national conference will decide whether to proceed to a formal vote in the summer.