Summer term and teacher pay update

This week, the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) report on teacher pay landed on the desk of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan. However, she has remained silent on the Government's proposed offer.

Government's Response

General Secretary, Daniel Kebede, has written to Gillian Keegan, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the teacher pay rise and address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis. This request follows the NEU's preliminary electronic ballot where tens of thousands of members voted in favour of strike action over pay and funding issues in schools and colleges.

After a month of waiting, Daniel Kebede received a response from Gillian Keegan which did not indicate when a pay offer would come. Instead, she criticised NEU members for voting for strike action:

Gillian keegan mp
“It is deeply discouraging that the NEU continues to threaten future strike, which will only further damage the education of pupils. I would urge you to engage with the pay review process rather than holding children's education to ransom.”
Gillian Keegan MP

Planning in uncertainty

The House of Commons Education Committee has called for urgent investment in teacher recruitment, training, and retention programmes. Instead of working with educators to solve these pressing issues, Gillian Keegan has chosen to criticise those striving to keep the education system functioning.

The absence of a timely pay offer disrupts the work of head teachers who are trying to plan their budgets for the next school year without knowing the recommended pay rise or the funding the Government will provide.

NFER report findings and response

A recent report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) underscores the urgent need for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise to reverse the decline in new trainees and retain experienced teachers. 

The report predicts that if teacher pay only increases in line with average earnings, the Department for Education (DfE) will continue to recruit barely half the required number of secondary trainees per year. By 2027/28, primary trainee numbers are expected to drop to similar shortfall levels.

Teacher supply has fallen since 2021/22 and continues to fall in our baseline scenario, where teacher pay growth matches forecasted growth in average earnings

Teacher supply has fallen since 2021/22 and continues to fall in our baseline scenario, where teacher pay growth matches forecasted growth in average earnings

Jack Worth, lead economist at NFER
"The Government that forms after the General Election will have to carefully consider what role teacher pay increases might play in addressing the critical challenge of teacher supply in England.

Our analysis shows there are opportunities for improving teacher supply by increasing the competitiveness of teachers’ pay."
Jack Worth, lead economist at NFER, highlighted the need for significant additional Government funding
Daniel Kebede
"This NFER analysis highlights yet again that unless teacher pay is addressed, the recruitment and retention crisis will continue.

The teacher supply crisis has been made and sustained by a Government unwilling to change path, no matter the damage to learners and educators. With teaching shortages across many subjects, piecemeal solutions will not work."
Daniel Kebede emphasised the need for substantial solutions to the teacher supply crisis

Future action

The NEU is advocating for a fully funded, above-inflation pay increase and a holistic approach to making teaching positions as attractive as other professions in the economy. 

The union plans to conduct a snap poll among its members once the Government's final pay and funding offer for September is confirmed, to decide whether to accept it or move to a formal ballot for strike action.

PayUp 24 campaign listing image

Pay campaign

The NEU is actively campaigning for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise for all educators, and pay restoration to compensate for years of below-inflation increases.

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