The President of the country's largest secondary teachers union has refused to comment on the possibility of more strike action over Junior Cycle reforms.

The ASTI's Standing Committee is meeting this afternoon to discuss its next steps - after members voted 55 to 45 per cent against the changes put forward by the Education Minister.

The result of the ASTI ballot appeared to cast new doubt over Jan O'Sullivan's Junior Cycle reforms.

However, she says she still intends to press forward with the plans - which were a compromise between school-based assessment - and the State evaluation favoured by teachers.

Minister O'Sullivan says she has no intention of backing down and said her plans are not 'in the bin'

The ASTI's President Maire Ni Chiarba says teachers don't have faith in the Government - and don't trust it to fund the changes needed.

Arriving for this afternoon's meeting, ASTI President Máire Ni Chiarba wouldn't be drawn on the prospect of more strikes.