Commenting on the Budget, Dr Patrick Roach, General
Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:
“After days of behind the scenes media briefings, teachers would
be right to be underwhelmed by the Chancellor’s announcements
today.
The Chancellor’s promise of fair and affordable pay rises over
the next three years will not address the very acute pressures
currently faced by teachers, following the 17% real terms cut to
teachers’ pay over the last decade, rising cost of living
pressures and, from next April, further increases in National
Insurance Contributions.
“Today’s announcement by the Chancellor falls short of what is
needed to address the deepening crisis in teacher morale.
“The Government must keep its promises, starting by giving the
School Teachers’ Review Body a clear and unrestricted remit that
is capable of restoring the value of teachers’ pay and ending the
current teacher retention crisis.
“The commitment to restore per pupil funding in schools to 2010
levels is a clear admission of the Government’s record of cuts to
school and education budgets over the last decade.
“Today’s announcement does not provide schools with the money
they need now to meet the acute demands from pupils whose
learning has been seriously disrupted by the pandemic.
“Today’s pledge to provide additional funding for education
recovery still only brings spending on post-pandemic recovery to
less than £5bn and is just a fraction of the £15 billion
reportedly recommended by the Government’s former Education
Recovery Commissioner.
“Schools and teachers are in need of immediate investment, not
promises for the future, if they are to deliver the best
opportunities and life chances for children and young people.”