Four education unions are warning that government pay proposals
would short-change most classroom teachers and all senior
leaders.
In a joint submission to the independent pay review body
(attached), the unions say government plans to address teacher
shortages by boosting starting salaries to £30,000 must also
include proposals to reverse the years of pay erosion for
experienced staff. The unions reject the current government
proposals, under which two-thirds of classroom teachers and all
school leaders would receive a pay increase of less than 3%
despite having seen the real value of salaries fall by some 15%
since 2010.
The National Education Union (NEU), National Association of
Head Teachers (NAHT), Voice, and the Association of School and
College Leaders (ASCL) agree that a significant uplift is needed
to starting and early career salaries to boost recruitment. But
in joint evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB),
they say that a better deal is also needed for experienced staff
in order to improve teacher retention.
The unions call for a significant pay increase for all
teachers and leaders and for this to be fully funded by the
government. They also call for the reinstatement of a national
pay structure and pay scales and an end to performance-related
pay. There is growing evidence that performance-related pay
demotivates teachers and damages retention, and that a national
pay structure would better support the profession.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of
NEU, said:
“Recruitment and retention problems affect the whole
profession and we need a decent pay award for the whole
profession, as the first step in the urgent restoration of the
pay cuts teachers have suffered.”
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of
ASCL, said:
“Teachers and school leaders will regard it as a snub if
they are given a pay award which fails to recognise their
professionalism and commitment after years of pay erosion. We
have to stop haemorrhaging experienced staff from the profession
– not make matters worse.”
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of
NAHT, said:
“There is a direct link between pay and leadership supply.
Decisive action is urgently needed if we are to have sufficient
school leaders for the future. School leaders’ pay this year must
begin to redress the real-terms losses they have endured over the
past decade.”
Deborah Lawson, General Secretary of
Voice, said:
“Ongoing pay restraint is failing to incentivise high
calibre graduates to enter and remain in the profession. What the
profession urgently needs is a fully funded, profession-wide pay
increase, coupled with a return to nationally recognised pay
scales that will maintain pay differentials and retain
experienced teachers in the profession.”
Editor’s note:
The full joint submission of ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Voice is
attached.
