Christine Blower pledged to ramp up action against Con-Dem education policy yesterday after being resoundingly re-elected general secretary of the National Union of Teachers.

Ms Blower secured her post with 28,428 votes compared to challenger Martin Powell Davies who polled 10,470.

Speaking after the result was announced, she said the union would continue its fight against “destructive” policies being forced on England’s schools by Tory Education Secretary Michael Gove. 

She said: “There is no question of the commitment and the determination I will bring to this campaign to engage with parents and the general public to put pressure on MPs and to take industrial action where it is needed.”

One of Ms Blowers’s first acts will be to lead thousands of members out on strike on July 10 among 2 million public-sector workers angry over pay.

Mr Powell Davies thanked his voters, saying: “To secure over 10,000 votes is a real achievement.”