ASCL: 7 in 10 school leaders vote to move to formal strike ballot

Members of the school leaders’ union ASCL have voted in favour of moving to a formal ballot for strike action, in a historic first.

In an unprecedented indicative ballot, 54 per cent of eligible members voted and 69 per cent backed moving to a formal ballot on strike action.

Seventy-four per cent said they wanted to move to a formal vote on action short of a strike.

The union’s executive is now considering its “next steps”.

If it does launch a formal ballot, it will be the fourth education union to do so over pay.

Ballots by the National Education Union, NASUWT teaching union and NAHT leaders’ union close next week.