Teachers will ballot for strike action after outright rejecting the Government's controversial academies plan.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), meeting at their annual conference in Brighton, voted overwhelmingly against what they consider to be the privatisation of the education system.

NUT executive member Ian Murch said the measures would see “schools stolen from their local communities”.

He said: “We will stand up for pupils, for patients and for teachers, and we will lead the campaign for sanity. We will fight the forced academisation of our schools.

“We will fight for what is right and we will fight until we win.”

Members voted against the Government's education white paper, and also agreed an amendment to ballot for strike action.

This is likely to include proposals for a one-day strike in the summer, as well as potential for further strikes, should members agree.