Thank you for contacting me about teachers’ pay.
Teachers have a huge impact on children’s futures, and I want all our children to be taught by the brightest and the best. I am aware that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers and educational staff faced many challenges and played an incredible role in ensuring that children have continued to receive a fantastic education.
The Secretary of State for Education continues to work with Cabinet colleagues to seek a fair and reasonable resolution to the pay dispute with teachers. Teachers in England have rejected a pay offer from the Government that would have seen salaries rise by 4.5 per cent on average next year, alongside a one-off payment of £1,000 for this year. The offer was funded, including major new investment of over half a billion pounds, and helps tackle issues teachers are facing like workload.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) have voted to turn down the offer. Instead, the NEU will hold two more strike days in the summer term, causing further disruption for students and parents. The unions also rejected an offer to create a new taskforce to help reduce workload by an average of five hours a week for teachers and leaders. The decision is disappointing and means less money for teachers this year and possible disruption to students preparing for exams. Furthermore, it is extremely disappointing that the NEU are re-balloting for more strike action up until Christmas this year.
Teacher pay for next year will now go through an independent pay review process as usual. The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) makes recommendations on the pay of teachers in England and reports to the Secretary of State for Education and the Prime Minister. As is normal, the STRB will look only at pay for next year, meaning teachers will not receive a one-off payment for this year (2022 to 2023).
Pay rises for teachers in the 2023/24 academic year must strike a careful balance between recruiting and retaining the best teachers and recognising their vital importance, alongside considering both affordability for schools and the wider economic context.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank teachers again for their remarkable commitment throughout the difficult times over the past three years.