Following the National Education Union's decision to reject a government pay offer, a Stevenage teacher has spoken out, claiming the offer was "not fully funded".

More strike chaos is expected this spring after an overwhelming 98 per cent of National Education Union (NEU) teacher members in England, who responded in a consultative ballot, voted to turn down the deal. 

A £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise for staff in the next academic year was the put on the table by the government.

The NEU, which had urged its members to reject the 'insulting' offer, plans to hold two further days of teacher strikes on Thursday, April 27 and Tuesday, May 2. 

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Stevenage maths teacher, Jill Borcherds, who has taught at secondary schools in Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City for the past 27 years - and joined the NEU as an Eastern Regional Council Officer - said: "A key reason was because that offer was not fully funded.

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"This means that to pay teachers the pay rises, our headteachers would have to choose what to cut back on elsewhere.

"Teachers know that there is simply nothing left to save money on. 

"Whatever further cuts were made would have a direct impact on the well-being and education of our students."

So far this year teachers across the country have gone on strike on February 1 and 28 and March 1, 2, 15 and 16. 

The government's Education Hub website claims: "Our priority is making sure children get the education that they deserve and do not have to face further days of disruption, especially as public examinations approach.

"Last week’s pay offer followed a week of intensive talks between unions and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan."