Commenting on a report in the Times which claims that the School Teachers' Review Body has recommended a pay offer of 'close to 4 per cent' for 2025/26, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Once again, vital information that may decide the future pay of teachers has been leaked to the press. This happens every year and the profession will be forgiven for thinking that nothing ever changes.
"Teachers are sick of hearing things through the press. They need to see the full report. It must be published now, and the Government's intentions on funding this year's pay award must also be made clear.
"This Government was elected on the promise of change, of recruiting 6,500 new teachers. Its existing proposal of a completely unfunded 2.8 per cent rise simply won't wash. That will only add to the crisis in recruitment and retention, rather than reduce it.
"This morning Paul Johnson of the IFS agreed that the Government 'could potentially afford pay rises of the 4 per cent level,' but if they don't, then the trade-offs will be further damage to teacher numbers.
"The ball is in this Government's court. They need to ensure the pay award is above inflation, that it takes steps to address the crisis in recruitment and retention, but most of all that it is fully funded.
"No one wants to take strike action but of course as a trade union we do stand ready to act industrially if we need to."