Commenting on today’s talks between education unions and
officials at the Department for Education over teacher and leader
pay, recruitment and retention, and potential industrial action,
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“We have had constructive talks with Department for Education
officials, but officials cannot make any political decisions and
it is political decisions that are needed to avert strikes and
address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
“What we have heard is that the department is pessimistic about
the prospect of there being any additional money available over
and above the extra funding for schools in the autumn statement.
Its assessment is that much of that money will, in fact, be taken
up by the high cost of energy bills, leaving very little left
over for any significant improvement to pay.
“This would mean that not only is there no improvement to this
year’s pay award – which was substantially below the rate of
inflation – but the prospects appear gloomy for next year’s pay
award too.
“The only solution therefore is a political intervention to make
more money available.
“The government has to recognise that we are currently caught in
a death spiral of a long-term decline in the real value of pay
and a consequent teacher recruitment and retention crisis which
is putting educational provision and standards at risk.
“We also discussed non-pay matters such as the fierce
accountability regime that schools are subjected to through
performance tables and Ofsted inspections, and which contributes
to workload pressures. If steps could be taken to make the system
less harsh and punitive that would be a welcome move in the right
direction. But we’re not convinced that politicians have the
appetite to address these issues.
“Time is pressing. The first day of NEU strike action takes place
on 1 February.
“Politicians must urgently take positive action to resolve the
dispute and do the right thing for schools, staff and children.”
