Teachers need to earn to live in London, not learn to live in London on inadequate levels of pay

Doug McAvoy, National Union of Teachers

According to the union, the current inner-London allowance of �2,316 fails to match the increased cost of living - and is much lower than the �6,000 allowance which the unions says is received by the police.

Unless such an increase is introduced the union says the "exodus" of teachers from London will continue, leaving schools increasingly dependent on overseas and supply staff.

'Inadequate'

"Teachers need to earn to live in London, not learn to live in London on inadequate levels of pay," said the union's general secretary, Doug McAvoy.

There have been previous warnings that public sector workers, in services such as education and health, have been in danger of being priced out of living in London.

The differences in house prices inside and outside the capital have made it difficult for schools to recruit teachers from other parts of the country.

Acknowledging these problems, the prime minister signalled that there might be extra financial support made available for teachers in London, in a speech addressed to head teachers last month.