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Save education

We are launching a campaign to save education through better pay and funding

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Get ballot ready

On 28 February we will begin parallel online indicative ballots for teachers and support staff across all state-funded schools and academies in England, taking the argument for better pay and funding to government, to parents and the profession.

To make sure you can take part, check your myNEU details are correct.

Teacher members will be asked: 

1. Do you reject the proposal of an unfunded 6.5 per cent increase over three years for teacher pay? 

2. Are you prepared to take industrial action to win sufficient funding to secure an above inflation pay increase, reduce workload and defend existing directed time provisions, including the 1,265 hours limit? 

The executive recommends a YES vote to both questions. 

A high turnout and an overwhelming YES vote will press the government to take meaningful action to Save Education. 

Speak to your NEU rep about how you can help them prepare for the indicative ballot and become a Save Education volunteer. 

Volunteer to help

Why ballot?

The government has proposed:

  1. an unfunded 6.5 per cent pay rise spread over the next three years, unlikely to match inflation.
  2. to get rid of the 1,265 working hours directed time limit, the only contractual protection on workload.

The historic decline in real-terms pay and loosening  rules around workload will do nothing to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

Our schools are already ‘running on empty’, with years of chronic underfunding to blame for a lack of resources, staff redundancies, crumbling school estate, inadequate SEND provision, and so much more.

We know that taking industrial action – or being prepared to take action – is the most effective way to force the government to change its mind. We have done it before, and we can do it again.

School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) in England for the 2026 pay award

The government has submitted its proposal to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), suggesting a 6.5% pay rise for teachers spread over three years. However, most of that increase would come in the later years, meaning teachers would still face a real-terms pay cut, especially with inflation in mind.

The government isn’t offering any extra funding to cover this pay rise. Schools would have to find the money from their existing budgets, which are already stretched. This could lead to staff cuts, fewer subject options, and reduced support for students.

In addition, the government wants to increase teacher workload by loosening rules around “directed time” – the hours teachers are required to work. This comes at a time when workload is already at record highs and is a major reason why teachers are leaving the profession.

With sister unions, we have written to the Education Secretary. The joint union statement sets out the clear priority for the Government – invest properly in our education service to reverse the huge real terms pay cuts.

NEU pay claim and joint union statement to the STRB

An NEU pay claim and a separate joint statement have been submitted to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) in England as evidence.

Sixth form college pay and workload consultation results

Members have overwhelmingly voted by 93.9 per cent to accept the pay offer on a turnout of 62.9 per cent, whilst near-uniformly rejecting by 86.6 per cent the inadequate response by the SFCA to our workload demands on a turnout of 61.4 per cent. Read more

Press releases

New school cuts

Taxing Wealth More : How to invest in our schools and avoid cuts

The NEU has backed three proposals from Tax Justice UK that would raise money for our schools through closing unfair loopholes and introducing achievable, credible tax reforms.

Find out more
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