Commenting on the Chancellor's announcement of a 5.5% pay deal
for teachers, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the
National Education Union, said:
“We thank the Secretary of State for showing the positive
leadership needed on teacher pay and the recruitment and
retention crisis that was missing under the previous 10
Conservative Education Secretaries.
“A 5.5% pay award is a necessary first step in the reversal of
the real terms pay cuts inflicted upon teachers and school
leaders during the Conservatives' time in office. Clearly, there
is still some way to go to restore what teachers and school
leaders have lost since 2010 and we will expect this to be
addressed in future pay rounds. This announcement is however a
strong signal to the profession about a new course of direction
in education. The £1.2 billion investment to fund this pay
award will be welcome news to school leaders who are juggling
overstretched budgets resulting from years of funding cuts.
“We welcome the fact the Government want to talk to the
profession about a range of issues. An important issue they need
to consider is how teacher pay is determined. The so-called
independent pay review body is a failed process that has resulted
in pay cuts over the last 14 years, contributing to a deepening
recruitment and retention crisis. It was only the efforts of NEU
members – who took 8 days of strike action in 2023, and who again
voted in an indicative ballot this year – that changed the pay
review body's thinking on teacher pay.
“NEU members will appreciate the Government's acknowledgment that
workload is another key issue hindering the recruitment and
retention of teachers. Removal of performance related pay will
make a material difference to the workload of teachers. Allowing
teachers to take the time needed to plan, prepare and assess at
home will inject some flexibility into teachers' working lives,
as in other professions. This flexibility is badly needed.
“The NEU Executive will meet next week to formally consider the
offer and will make a recommendation that members will vote upon
in September.”
