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Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing jointly on behalf of the five education unions representing teachers and school leaders — NASUWT, NEU, NAHT, ASCL and Community regarding the Government’s evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for the 2026 pay award.
We are extremely concerned that the Department for Education’s submission proposes an overall uplift of 6.5% over three years, weighted towards later years of the Parliament, and that this uplift will not be fully funded.
The DfE’s evidence relies on forecast inflation quickly reverting to the Bank of England’s 2% inflation target and remaining there. The OBR acknowledges that inflation outturns have been significantly higher. Locking in low level increases in teachers’ pay risks further eroding the real value of teachers’ earnings which have fallen very significantly on any inflation measure since 2010.
The DfE’s evidence contains a number of more positive statistics from the most recent 12 months. Even where we accept these figures, they typically represent small recoveries from what were historic lows. For example, teacher vacancies decreased in November 2024 by 600 to 2,200. However, this remains around double the pre-pandemic rate and is the third worst on record. From these small, single-year upticks, the DfE has extrapolated a long-term recovery in teacher recruitment and retention.
Schools are already facing significant financial strain. The DfE did not fully funded the staff pay awards for 2025-26 and the DfE evidence makes clear that schools must part fund future pay awards. Trust CEOs told the Confederation of School Trusts that financial sustainability is by far and away their most demanding priority.
Any award that is not fully funded will inevitably result in further cuts to staffing and essential provision, undermining the ability of schools to deliver high-quality education for all pupils. This would be at odds with the Government’s stated commitment to improving standards and outcomes. Over a million pupils are already taught in classes of more than 30, the highest number in a generation.
We urge the Government to submit revised evidence to the STRB which:
- Reflects the urgent need to restore the real-terms value of teacher pay;
- Provides for fully funded, above-inflation awards in each year of this Parliament; and
- Recognises that investment in teachers and schools is essential to delivering the Government’s education priorities.
We would welcome an early meeting to discuss these concerns and to ensure that the pay review process contributes to a sustainable solution to the recruitment and retention challenges facing schools.
Yours sincerely,
Matt Wrack, General Secretary NASUWT
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary NEU
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary NAHT
Pepe Di’lasio, General Secretary ASCL
Helen Osgood, Operations Director Community