The government's plans for performance-related pay for classroom teachers in England and Wales have been controversial from the outset.

The whole process was thrown into turmoil by a judicial review of key aspects of the changes, sought by the National Union of Teachers.

In what it hailed as an "historic" ruling in the High Court on 14 July, Mr Justice Jackson found in the union's favour and said the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, had acted illegally.

Such major changes to teachers' pay and conditions could not be "foisted" on the profession, the judge said.

Mr Blunkett had bypassed the independent School Teachers Review Body, which advises him on pay, as well as Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

He had "evaded proper scrutiny" of what he was doing.

Ministers say they remain committed to bringing in the changes.

They consulted formally through the pay review body, which backed their proposals though with certain minor changes.