National Education Union (NEU) members — teachers and leaders in England — have voted in favour of accepting the Government’ pay award.
This snap poll of members working in state schools ran from 21st-30th September 2024.
The question was,
“Do you Accept or Reject the Government’s 5.5 per cent pay offer?”
95% of responders voted to accept. Schools will receive an additional £1.2 billion to fund the pay rise.
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“At last, some progress with teacher pay stability. Members achieving this through a hard-fought campaign in recent years.
“But this is likely just a first step in a much-needed correction. Teacher pay was cut by around a quarter in real terms since 2010. Pay is Scotland is significantly higher. This is unsustainable.
“This week, Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson’s remit letter to the School Teachers’ Review Body highlights the central and critical issue of the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Pay needs to be competitive. The huge real terms pay cuts since 2010 need reversing.
“Moreover, teachers and schools need a fair national pay structure including:
- the removal of performance-related pay.
- fair pay progression to recognise the acquisition of experience.
- pay portability when teachers move schools.
- not waiting until November for their 1 September pay rise.
- a re-think on ‘targeted’ pay. It is unfair, divisive and creates more problems than it solves.”
He went on to say,
“Tackling this crisis in the interests of pupils and parents includes ensuring improvements are always fully funded too. Teacher shortages and high class sizes damage education.
“Support staff, further education and sixth form college teachers need solutions to long-standing pay problems too.
“Too often affordability is about short-term political choices. Too often governments lose sight of the long-term benefits and savings of early intervention. The value of having a well-resourced and supported education system speaks for itself.”
