Around 220,000 school support staff have been told they will have their pay frozen this year and the next, a move which union leaders warn could create tensions in the classroom. Local government workers were this week told their pay will remain static in 2010 and 2011, in contrast to teachers, who have been promised a 2.3 pay rise.

Christina McAnea, head of education at Unison, which represents 200,000 support staff, said: “Teachers are getting a rise while the poorest paid staff are not getting anything.” The announcement comes just months before the new support staff negotiating body submits its recommendations for a universal framework for support staff pay to the Government.