“EXPECT strikes in schools” was the warning coming from teaching unions this week after more than three-quarters of Islington’s teachers who are members of a union voted in an indicative ballot on walk­outs.

The NASUWT union and the National Education Union have this week begun a formal ballot on whether teachers will stage a walkout in the new year over pay and conditions in schools.

The national indicative ballot, which ended last week, showed that almost nine in 10 teachers would support strike action. More than 75 per cent of union members from Islington voted in the ballot.

Headteachers are currently being balloted by their union, the NAHT, on whether they would be willing to strike, with a decision expected by January.

Islington NEU rep Tony Buttifint said: “People are saying enough is enough in terms of pay. We’ve seen a 20 per cent pay cut since 2010 in real terms and further decreases on top of that in the shape of the cost of living crisis and inflation. People are saying being offered 5 per cent shows that teachers are not being valued and isn’t sufficient.

“Furthermore, even that 5 per cent is not being funded by the government but is coming out of school budgets.”

Teachers have been offered a 5 per cent pay rise – which is 7 per cent below inflation and a 20 per cent cut in real terms on their 2010 pay. In addition, a demand to fund the pay rise from already stretched school budgets instead of being centrally funded has been met with derision by unions.

The last nationwide strike took place in 2008 – and before that teachers had not shut classrooms for 21 years.

Last week the Tribune revealed that by April next year 31 out of 46 schools will be in deficit, pushed to the brink by soaring energy costs, unexpected staff costs and falling rolls. Across the borough, seven seats in almost every classroom are unfilled after 1,500 pupils – the equivalent of five primary schools’ worth of children – left Islington in the past five years.

A demand from the NEU for the government to give teachers a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise went unanswered by deadline day yesterday (Thursday), following months of chaos at the top of the tree in the education department. Last week Kit Malthouse, the fifth education secretary in four months, departed: it was unclear if he jumped or was pushed.

“I expect teachers will vote to take strike action unless the government comes back to the negotiating table,” said Mr Buttifint.

“Teachers don’t want to strike but the government is forcing it. They are giving teachers a well-below inflation pay rise and people can’t afford that, and we just feel we should be valued. We feel we should be paid properly.”

Last week the Tribune reported that Islington was planning to consult over the possible closure, merger or academisation of primary schools to save money.