The National Education Union (NEU) launched online indicative ballots last Saturday, asking teacher and support staff members in England whether they would be prepared to strike over pay, funding and workload.
Why the NEU is consulting members
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the NEU on the Isle of Wight, says the government’s proposed 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers over three years will likely fall below the rate of inflation.
He argues the offer does nothing to repair what he describes as the real-terms pay cut teachers have suffered since 2010.
A further concern, Mr Shreeve says, is that any pay rise must come from existing school budgets rather than new money from the Treasury.
Island schools already under financial pressure
Mr Shreeve points to a Schools Forum paper from 17th July 2025, which forecast that 31 of the Island’s 39 maintained schools would spend more than their annual funding allocation in 2025-26.
He says the Treasury’s claim that schools can still find further efficiencies is “difficult to believe” in light of that forecast.
With budgets already stretched, Mr Shreeve warns that support staff are likely to bear the brunt of any further cuts – a group he says has already seen pay decline and workload increase.
Support staff facing exodus
He cites the Department for Education’s own research from February, which found that 22 per cent of support staff are considering leaving the state school sector within a year.
Last month’s education White Paper, he adds, asks even more of staff through proposed SEND reforms.
Comparing teacher pay with MPs’ pay
Mr Shreeve also draws attention to an announcement on 2nd March from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – the expenses watchdog – that MPs will receive a five per cent pay increase, described by the authority as justified by “abuse and intimidation” and rising casework.
He questions why teachers, who he says face similar pressures and increasingly complex needs among pupils, face a more modest rise.
A call to act
Mr Shreeve concludes,
“School finances are fragile. Inclusion is under strain. It’s time to stand up and save education.”
Read more about the ballot on the NEU website.
