Commenting on the Union’s evidence to the Schools Teachers’
Review Body (STRB), which was submitted today (attached), Kevin
Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National
Education Union, said:
“The NEU evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body calls
for an increase of 7% to teacher pay in England in September,
matching the 7% awarded to teachers in Scotland last year.
The 7% increase, which must be fully funded by the Government and
paid to all teachers, is essential to begin to reverse the major
real terms cuts to teacher pay by successive Governments since
2010. Urgent action is also needed to reduce teacher
workload.
“The attacks on teacher pay have contributed significantly
to the severe and entrenched teacher recruitment and retention
crisis, which is set out in detail in the NEU evidence to the
STRB. The national teacher pay structure has been
dismantled, with performance related pay imposed on teachers
despite it being clear that PRP in teaching is unjustified and
damaging. Some multi-academy trusts are moving away from
PRP - the NEU evidence calls for the Government to restore the
national teacher pay structure and end PRP in teaching.
Real-terms pay cuts, restrictions on pay progression and high
workload are driving experienced teachers out of the profession
and deterring young graduates from becoming teachers.
“The 7% increase in September should just be the first step
in restoring the position of teaching in the graduate labour
market so that we can recruit and retain the teachers we
need. Alongside the removal of PRP, the NEU calls for the
Government to establish, in consultation with the teacher unions,
a timetable for further above-inflation teacher pay increases
beyond 2020.
“We look forward to the Secretary of State's proposals on
teacher pay and will respond to his evidence to the STRB.
We are however clear that, with teacher retention having emerged
as a serious problem alongside teacher recruitment, the 7%
increase must be paid to all teachers – to those starting or in
the early years of their careers, but also to experienced
teachers. For the sake of our schools and the communities
they serve, the new Government must take urgent action to restore
the serious damage caused by a decade of attacks on teacher
pay.”
