New analysis by the NASUWT-The Teachers’
Union, has found that thousands of teachers are being
denied the pay award or pay progression they are entitled to at a
time when £4 billion is sitting in school balances.
The emerging headlines from an NASUWT survey of 6,900 teachers in
England, due to be published in full later this month, has found
that nearly six in ten (57%) have either been told they will not
be given any pay award at all this year, or have not had any
confirmation that they will receive the pay award to which they
are entitled.
This is at a time when maintained and academy school balances
stand at over £4 billion. If this was distributed evenly across
the system it would result in an additional £8,763 per teacher
available for pay and pay progression.
NASUWT General Secretary
Chris Keates said:
“It is clear from the emerging findings from the survey that
teachers continue to be denied their entitlements in relation to
an annual pay award and pay progression.
“It is a shocking indictment of the failure of Government and
employers to ensure that teachers are recognised and rewarded as
highly skilled professionals that, year on year since 2011, the
percentage of the school budget allocated for teachers’ pay has
dramatically reduced and now stands at an average of only 46%
across the school system.
“Last year the Secretary of State deliberately denied teachers
the pay to which the Independent Review Body considered they were
entitled by imposing his own recommendation in place of the
Review Body’s. The figures from the NASUWT illustrate the
damaging effect that this has had on teachers’ pay.
“To add insult to injury in this pay round the Government has
forced the Review Body to abandon its timetable for taking
evidence on teachers’ pay for 2019/20 stating it does not know
when it will be able to get its evidence ready. This is simply
treating teachers with contempt.
“It is yet another illustration of the reason why the education
service is facing the worst teacher recruitment and retention
crisis since World War Two.
“Teachers are rightly angry and frustrated at the seeming
indifference of ministers to ensure they are recognised and
rewarded fairly for the work they do.
“The NASUWT is continuing to support members across the country
who are determined to challenge their employer on pay by taking
industrial action. More and more teachers are contacting
the Union every day, seeking our support to stand up on pay and
the other issues of deep concern to them, particularly excessive
workload and pupil indiscipline.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The opinion survey had 6,900 responses.
The figures of £4 billion and £8,763 have been calculated as
follows:
The most recent DfE school funding data confirms total surplus
balances of £2.4 billion in the academy sector and £1.56 billion
in the maintained school sector, totalling £3.96 billion (rounded
to £4 billion): ‘DfE, Academy revenue reserves
2016 to 2017, July 2018’ and ‘DfE, Expenditure by
local authorities and schools on education, children and young
people’s services in England, 2017-18, December 2018’. Both
statistical releases are attached.
The 2017 School Workforce Census (SWC), which was published in
June 2018, confirms 451,900 full time equivalent teachers. If the
total surplus balance figure for the schools and academy sectors
(£3.96 billion) is divided by 451,900, this provides a figure of
£8,763 per teacher. The SWC release is attached.
Attached is a leaflet on the key emerging headlines – the full
report will be released later this month.