Responding to the Chancellor's announcement this afternoon that
teachers and school leaders will receive a 5.5% pay increase for
2024/25, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders'
union NAHT, said:
“Leaders and teachers will welcome today's above-inflation pay
offer - it is another clear sign that the new government is
serious about resetting the relationship with the profession.
"While pay remains below 2010 levels in real-terms, a 5.5% uplift
is a significant step on the journey towards pay restoration,
which we have long called for. We are currently in the midst of
the worst recruitment and retention crisis in living memory – in
part because under the last government the pay of leaders and
teachers was cut by 20% in real terms. Teaching needs to once
again be a sought-after, competitive career, and pay is an
important part of that picture.
“We are particularly pleased the chancellor has pledged
additional funding for this deserved pay rise, which is crucial
at a time when many school budgets are stretched. It is also
positive to see that the government has considered the impact of
support staff pay awards when allocating additional funding.
"As the government has acknowledged, schools will feel the impact
of this uplift differently depending on their unique
circumstances and it will be important that those already under
the most significant financial pressures, such as special
educational needs schools, small schools and alternative
provision, get extra support where necessary.
Commenting on the announcement of an end to mandatory performance
related pay, Mr Whiteman added: “NAHT has long called for the end
of performance related pay – it has been proven to be ineffective
in education and is a bureaucratic burden on schools, so we are
pleased that the obligation to use it will be removed from this
September. Given the timing, schools may need to think carefully
about how they implement this change, but we will be encouraging
them to do so as soon as possible.”
