NEU: Cost of living driving staff in independent schools into second jobs

In the first findings of our largest ever survey of National Education Union members working in independent schools, one third tell us they have been forced to take on additional work to make ends meet.

A poll of 4,000 teacher and 750 support staff members in England and Wales, found that 32 per cent of teachers and 29 per cent of support staff say the cost-of-living crisis has forced them into additional paid work. Of these, we asked what form the work took:

“I now have to tutor as can't afford to live on my teacher salary alone, after 20 years of being in the profession.” (teacher)

“Working in bars and restaurant during holiday and tutoring during term time.” (teacher)

“Nannying and Babysitting.” (teacher)

“I work two jobs a day, when I finish at school I go straight to an evening job.” (support staff)

“I live alone & have no money saved at the end of the month after paying all the bills & expenses. No social life, non smoker, don't drink. Life is not fun!” (support staff)

“My wage is that low that I qualify to be able to claim benefits from the government and I use a food bank weekly.” (support staff)

Low pay for support staff is compounded by the fact that a majority (55 per cent) are paid for term-time only.

Pay increases in private schools continue to lag behind the state sector. In the current academic year (2024/25), just 12 per cent of teachers in private schools received an increase that matched or bettered the state sector pay award of 5.5 per cent.

“As a family man, I now struggle to afford a modest house and bills. My debt is increasing.” (teacher)

“Can't afford the things I used to! I am in a good job with huge amounts of responsibility but my pay is woeful compared to other sectors. Civil service managers are on about £20k more than me” (teacher)

“Mortgages increased dramatically, fuel increase, water increase, council tax increase etc etc. [It's] just pay that hasn't increased in line with everything else.” (teacher)

Almost half of support staff (45 per cent) working in independent schools received less than the state sector minimum of 2.5 per cent. The vast majority (89 per cent) received less than the state maximum of 5.7 per cent.

“No pay rise for 3 years.” (support staff)

“Pay has only increased 5%, to £21/hour, over a 4 year period, despite a >25% rise in the cost of living.” (support staff)

“As a single working parent the cost of everything and the added pressure of rent continuously going up and being unaffordable. I have been on the housing list for 10 years and getting nowhere.” (support staff)

The vast majority of teacher respondents (93 per cent) say the cost-of-living crisis has affected their standard of living, with 39 per cent saying by ‘a lot', 54 per cent by ‘a little', and for the remaining 7 per cent ‘not at all'. Among support staff, 50 per cent said by ‘a lot', 44 per cent' by ‘a little', and 6 per cent ‘not at all'.

The recent introduction of VAT on fees has already had an impact on staffing at independent schools. This includes redundancies as well as a freeze on recruitment. Schools have also used the change as an opportunity to depress payments to both teachers and support staff.

Commenting on the findings, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:

“Staff in private schools are seeing their standard of living eroded by the continuing cost of living crisis. That is why members have become so energised by campaigns launched by the NEU in recent years, which have taken on workload, attacks on pensions and ‘fire and rehire' strategies designed to undermine the workforce and worsen pay and conditions.

“Employers will use the Government's VAT policy as an excuse to continue with more of the same. They must not make the mistake of thinking they have carte blanche to do as they wish. The NEU will take on those employers and will robustly defend our members, as the largest union of teachers and support staff in the independent sector.”