The UK government announces that teachers in England will receive a 3.5% pay rise from September, based on recommendations it says it accepts from the School Teachers’ Review Body. Multiple outlets report that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also recommends a further 3% increase next year. Alongside the pay changes, schools are told they must fund at least part of the higher wage bill rather than receiving full coverage through additional central funding. The BBC and other reports say unions warn this will further strain already tight school budgets. The Independent similarly highlights concerns that schools must cover part of the rise, noting the possibility of industrial action. The Guardian adds that the overall package amounts to a two-year increase of 6.6%, but that close to a third of the higher pay is expected to come from school funding. Unions respond that while the level of the increase is welcomed relative to inflation, the funding split raises the risk of further disputes, including strike action.