Schools had to start an hour late on Thursday as teachers across the state held stop work meetings for the vote.

The new agreement is for a 2.5 per cent annual pay increase and existing workplace conditions continued for three years, NSW Teachers Federation president Maurie Mulheron said. 

“The offer teachers have voted on today delivers real salary increases, locked in and secured for three years, and the preservation of all working conditions,” Mr Mulheron said.

Mr Mulheron said teachers had “overwhelmingly” approved the deal at Thursday’s stop work meetings.

But more industrial action could be on the horizon as teachers resist what the union called a “crippling” increase in administrative tasks and paperwork, which teachers say cuts into class learning time.

On Thursday Mr Mulheron said the pay offer was at the top of the Government’s salary cap policy, but it failed to take account of the increased demands being placed on teachers.

This would be the focus of debate in the coming year.

“There is something seriously wrong with a Department that employs more statisticians than curriculum support offers, where data collecting is a higher priority than teaching and learning.”

“The Teachers Federation will be campaigning to fight back against the loss of Department support for schools that has adversely impacted on the work of principals and teachers that has happened under a policy called Local Schools, Local Decisions.”

An education department spokeswoman said statistics were essential for important funding and planning purposes.

“Collection of quality data and in-depth analysis is essential for evidence-based policy development and decision making concerning educational delivery in NSW public schools, with a view to improving education outcomes for our students,” she said.