Commenting on the announcement on teacher pay, NASUWT General
Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“Whilst today’s announcement recognises the importance of pay
levels in making teaching more attractive to new teachers, the
Government also needs to do more to retain experienced teachers
in the profession.
“Over the last few months, parents and the public have thanked
teachers for the tremendous contribution they have made in
supporting children’s learning during the Coronavirus crisis. It
is therefore right that the Government recognises, values and
rewards the work of teachers, too.
“Increases to starting salaries for new teachers will be widely
welcomed, but schools also rely on the contributions of
experienced teachers who are playing a vital role in ensuring
that children are able to recover their education following
recent months of disruption.
“It will be a disappointment that the Government’s proposals on
teachers’ pay do not provide experienced teachers with the
increased rewards they also deserve, and does not do enough to
redress the 18% real-terms decline in levels of teachers’ pay
over the past decade.
“The public will expect the Government to honour its commitment
to increase the pay of teachers by ensuring that the September
pay award is delivered in full to every teacher.
“The NASUWT will be looking to the Government to set out how it
will deliver this year’s pay award to every teacher or risk
losing the trust and confidence of teaching profession.
“The report and recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review
Body report will also need to be considered carefully. However,
there is now a widespread acceptance that the freedoms and
flexibilities that have dogged the system of teachers’ pay over
the last decade have had their day.”
