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Teachers in England to get 3.5% pay rise
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

Teachers in England to get 3.5% pay rise

From BBC News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Teachers in England will receive a 3.5% pay rise starting in September, followed by a 3% increase the next year, according to the government.
  • The government announced additional funding of £1.8 billion but stated schools must cover the first 1% of each raise from existing budgets.
  • The largest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), rejected the offer and is considering strike action, criticizing the partial funding and real-terms pay cuts since 2010.

Teachers in England are set to receive a 3.5% pay rise from September, with a further 3% increase planned for the following year, the Department for Education (DfE) announced. The government has allocated an additional £1.8 billion in funding for this purpose. However, schools will be required to finance the initial 1% of each raise using their current budgets.

We are considering all options.

— NEU spokespersonResponding to whether the union would still proceed with a strike ballot after the pay offer.

The government also announced measures to curb the pay of top leaders in academy trusts. New regulations will require government approval for any advertised jobs with salaries exceeding £174,000. Additionally, executives will not be permitted to receive higher pay rises than classroom teachers. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated these changes demonstrate the "immense value" placed on teachers and aim to prevent unjustifiable executive salary increases.

The government had been "forced" to go beyond its original offer but it was "not the decisive shift needed to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2010 or restore the competitiveness of teacher pay."

— Daniel KebedeCritiquing the government's pay offer for teachers.

The National Education Union (NEU), England's largest teaching union, has rejected the offer. A spokesperson indicated the union is "considering all options," including a formal ballot for strike action. Union general secretary Daniel Kebede argued that the government was "forced" to improve its initial offer but called it "not the decisive shift needed to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2010 or restore the competitiveness of teacher pay." He criticized the partial funding, stating, "A partially funded settlement still means cuts to education."

A partially funded settlement still means cuts to education.

— Daniel KebedeExplaining the NEU's objection to the pay offer's funding model.

Concerns about funding were echoed by other education bodies. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, called the offer "another step in the right direction" but warned that partial funding would increase pressure on school budgets. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the pay awards but noted that budget implications would vary, stating, "It will be very challenging for many schools to find money from their existing budgets."

It will be very challenging for many schools to find money from their existing budgets in the way that is required.

— Pepe Di'IasioCommenting on the financial implications of the pay rise for schools.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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