STRB supplementary evidence 2023

Context

1. This document sets out the supplementary evidence from the National Education Union (NEU) to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB).
2. The focus of our supplementary evidence is a response to the initial written evidence submitted by other consultees, in particular the Government’s evidence to the STRB of 21 February. We also take the opportunity to review recent significant developments on teacher pay and conditions.
3. We note that other consultees’ evidence once again demonstrated the isolation of the Government on the key issues of pay, workload, recruitment and retention, and funding.
4. The NEU and other unions remain in dispute with the Government at the time of writing. We note the following key points on the dispute.
5. The Government’s offer of 24 March has been rejected by an overwhelming 98% of NEU teacher members in England on a turnout of 66%.1 The reasons for this response are clear.
6. Unconsolidated pay rises do not tackle inflation that is baked in, even if the rate of increase in inflation subsequently falls. Nor do they redress the significant real terms pay cuts against inflation since 2010.
7. The Government’s pay offer is not fully funded. It would see pay for teachers in England fall even further behind their counterparts in Wales and Scotland. The Government’s March 2023 pay offer would mean another two years of real terms pay cuts in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
8. Workload measures without adequate staffing and funding are just as meaningless as pay rises that are not fully funded. The Government’s offer would do nothing to tackle the serious recruitment and retention problems.
9. All of these key issues are well understood and supported by NEU members, as shown by the huge vote to reject the Government’s offer of 24 March. These vital issues set the context for any discussion of teacher pay and conditions.