Commenting on yesterday’s (31st July) latest National Education Union ballot results, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“Further teacher strike action over 2023/24 pay will not happen in the autumn term.
“Isle of Wight members and others have voted clearly and in great numbers over recent months. They worked hard to change the Government’s position on pay and funding. Indeed, the action was key in securing the highest pay award for over thirty years. Moreover, members secured extra funding for schools.”
He went on to say,
“The re-ballot for strike action comfortably passed Government’s highly restrictive thresholds. Turnout for electronic ballots was also strong, suggesting it is time for Government to end the practice of mail-only ballots.
“However, despite the end to next term’s action, major challenges still remain unsolved – staff recruitment and retention, as well as an overwhelming workload.”
Dramatic trainee shortages in almost all secondary subjects
Mr Shreeve went on to add,
“Less than three weeks ago, the Parliamentary Education committee learned of 2,300 teacher vacancies in November 2022 – the highest number since 2010 and significantly more than the previous year. Research suggests this increase indicates that teacher leaving rates have likely increased this year. That only 59 per cent of the target for recruiting trainees for Initial Teacher Training was achieved in 2022/23 made the situation worse.
“July 2023 figures show teacher recruitment for 2023/24 just below target in the primary sector, but missing the secondary school recruitment target in almost all subjects and by 48 percent overall.
“Thus, there will still be dramatic trainee shortages in almost all secondary subjects particularly in key areas such as Business Studies, Physics, MFL (languages) and computing.
“All these vacancies need to be filled. It remains the view of the NEU that school and college funding is far from adequate.”
Shreeve: Campaign for better-funded education system will not go away
He finished by saying,
“In a 13 July statement, Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said she would convene a workload reduction taskforce to explore how to ‘minimise workload for teachers and leaders’. The aim to reduce working hours by five hours per week. Every teacher has their fingers crossed.
“By supporting education communities to attract and keep staff, better ensures every child gets the attention and support they deserve. The campaign for a better-funded education system will not go away.”
Image: dan dimmock under CC BY 2.0
