ASCL responds to reports of public sector pay freeze

Responding to reports that public sector workers, including teachers, face a pay freeze next year, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“For many experienced teachers and leaders the prospect of a pay freeze will be the final straw and we are extremely concerned that it will lead to an exodus from the profession.

“They have worked under relentless pressure during the coronavirus pandemic and are on the frontline of managing public health measures while also delivering education.

“In addition, their pay has not recovered from a decade of austerity, their schools are underfunded, and they are subjected to an excessively harsh accountability regime.

“There is only so much that people can take.

“If the government goes down the road of imposing a pay freeze on top of everything else, it is in danger of precipitating a crisis in which many teachers and leaders decide enough is enough.

“It is also infuriating to once again see major announcements affecting the lives of loyal public sector workers being trailed first in the media rather than hearing directly from the government.”