Teachers have demanded either a pay rise of 10% or 3,000 - whichever is greater.

Members of one of the UK's biggest unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), have voted in favour of the pay rises because they believe low pay is deterring people from entering the profession.

The settlement would be four times higher than the figure the Government has said it is prepared to offer. The Government claims the average teaching salary is £33,000 and working conditions have never been better.

But as many private-sector organisations have been forced to freeze pay, public sector salaries continue to increase faster than average salaries.

So far the NUT has not threatened strike action over the issue.