UK government fully funds teachers' pay rise in England to avert strike ballot

The government has agreed to fully fund the teachers' pay award in England, adding around £500m, after the NEU threatened strike action.

• Education secretary Lucy Powell confirmed in a letter that the pay offer will be fully funded using savings from local government pension scheme revaluations.
• The National Education Union said the extra funding would total around £500m for schools this year.
• NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said the funding would prevent schools from having to cut budgets to cover the pay rise.
• The NEU national executive will meet on 24 September to decide whether to call off a strike ballot due to begin on 3 October.