Commenting on the Government’s remit letter to the School Teachers’ Review Body for the 2026/27 pay round, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The Government’s remit letter to the STRB, covering a multi-year period, does not adequately address the urgent need for a fully funded pay correction and significant improvements to workload.
"The huge real terms cuts to pay since 2010 have been significantly greater than those in other professions, contributing to the recruitment and retention crisis. The pay cuts must be reversed. We need a fair and mandatory national pay structure with pay levels sufficient to value, recruit and retain teachers. Alongside the pay correction, there must be effective action to tackle excessive workload, improve work/life balance, and increase flexible working opportunities.
"These urgent priorities require significant additional investment from the Government, which must fully fund pay awards. Schools are under huge financial pressure, including the funding shortfall for the September 2025 pay increase. Schools cannot be expected to make significant efficiency savings.
"Without fully funded and significant improvements to pay and conditions, the recruitment and retention crisis will continue. Government failure to invest properly in our education service will therefore come at a huge cost to pupils and parents, as well as to teachers."