The executive of the National Education Union met today to discuss the commitment from government to fully fund at a national level the teacher and support staff pay award for 2026/27. They have agreed to pause the ballot that was set to launch on 3 October.
Almost a year ago, in its submission to the School Teachers’ Review Body, the Department for Education proposed a 6.5 per cent rise for teachers over three years, a review of the 1265-hour limit on directed time, and that the pay award should be funded entirely from ‘efficiencies’ within existing budgets.
Between February and April, we held an indicative ballot of our members, resulting in a 90 per cent yes vote for taking action. This pressure contributed to a shifting of ground, which saw a new commitment from Bridget Phillipson in early July: 6.5 per cent across two years, the withdrawal of a threat to directed time, and more money to meet the cost of the pay rise. But it was not enough, leaving a yawning £460m black hole in school budgets.
A trade dispute was registered with government on 17 July. However, since then negotiations between the NEU and incoming education secretary Lucy Powell have resulted in additional funding of £500m. This comes from a re-evaluation of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
However, the NEU is clear schools have been starved of funding for a sustained period and Government must not stop here. The £3.3bn saving from the TPS should also remain in schools rather than be clawed back by the treasury. No ifs or buts this is education money and in education it must stay.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said:
“NEU members should be congratulated for fighting funding cuts to education on behalf of the entire school community.
“A pay deal without funding was never viable. We have been clear with ministers that their talk of hope and opportunity for young people counted for little without the investment to turn those words into reality. This is the strongest signal yet that the new administration is willing to put its money where its mouth is. It is my sincere belief that we now have a genuine opportunity on our hands to build on this victory, leverage our success, and make austerity in the classroom a thing of the past.
“However, there is still much to do. Seventy-four per cent of schools have less money in real terms than they did in 2010. Teachers have suffered real terms pay cuts of around a fifth in that same period, contributing to the recruitment and retention crisis. Buildings continue to crumble. Workload remains high.
“The NEU is clear schools have been starved of funding for a sustained period and Government must not stop here. The £3.3bn saving from reduced employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension should also remain in schools rather than be clawed back by the treasury. No ifs or buts - this is education money and in education it must stay.”