National Education Union members have voted in favour of a fresh ballot for strike action, which would give it a mandate for action up until Christmas.
A successful motion at the union’s annual conference in Harrogate also calls for three further days of strike action in late June to early July.
The NEU’s previous ballot, which closed in January, is valid until July this year.
Teacher members of the union have already taken six days of action, and are due to walk out again on April 27 and May 2.
During a 50-minute debate that focused on potential disruption during the exam period, an amendment proposing further strikes in late May and mid-June was defeated.
But they supported strike action in late June and early July. According to timetables published by AQA, the largest provider of GCSEs and A-levels in England, the final exam of the season is due to take place on June 23.
It comes after the union voted overwhelmingly to reject the government’s recent pay offer.
‘We will be stepping up our campaign’
Kevin Courtney, the NEU’s joint general secretary, said: “As this education secretary appears not to care about the run-down and demoralised education system, the NEU will be stepping up our campaign for fair pay for teachers.
“In the run up to local elections this May and an expected general election next year the NEU will be calling on candidates and elected politicians to stand up for education in their local communities.
“If the government does not resolve the current pay dispute the NEU will re-ballot members for a renewed mandate for further industrial action in the next academic year.”
The motion called for the period of exams from May 15 to be used for a re-ballot, which would run until July.
It proposed that further dates for action in the summer term would be agreed by the union’s executive on May 18.
A DfE spokesperson said: “After costing children almost a week of time in the classroom and with exams fast approaching, it is unforgiveable that the NEU are re-balloting for more strike action up until Christmas this year.”
It comes as a survey of almost 18,000 NEU members found that one in five had taken on a second job to make ends meet.
The poll also found 85 per cent of teachers and 81 per cent of support staff responding said they had reduced home heating, while 23 per cent of teachers and 26 per cent of support staff said they had skipped meals.
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