Commenting on uncertainty over the teacher pay award 2024/25
following the calling of the General Election on 4 July, Pepe
Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“The Department for Education has not been able to give us any
steer on the fate of the teacher pay award – and we fear no
decision will now be made until after the General Election.
“The implications of this delay are serious as it means that
teachers and leaders have no clarity about what they will be paid
when they come back after the summer break, and schools are
unable to plan their budgets for next year with any confidence.
“This is particularly problematic in the context of school
budgets being under massive pressure with many schools planning
deficit budgets while they consider further cuts.
“Frustratingly, we know the pay review body recommendation has
already been delivered to the Education Secretary and it is now
sat collecting dust in Whitehall.
“Although the current circumstances are unusual, delays to the
teacher pay award are not, and the government has a habit of
making this decision far too late in the day.
“We'll be urging the new government to settle this matter as soon
as possible making sure that the pay award addresses the huge
challenges over teacher recruitment and retention and that it is
fully funded so that schools are able to afford it.”
