Four education unions – ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Voice – have today
written to education secretary regarding
the Government’s response to the recommendations of the 30th
report of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The deadline
for submissions is today.
In a joint covering statement, the general secretaries of the
four unions, said:
“Teachers and school leaders agree that these proposals are
divisive and inadequate. Giving lower pay increases to
experienced teachers than to new teachers will not address the
current problems but will instead create new ones. The Government
must improve teacher pay levels and pay prospects, and drop
damaging and unfair performance related pay (PRP), if we are to
tackle the serious and entrenched teacher recruitment and
retention problems.
“Since 2010 the value of teacher pay against inflation has been
cut, PRP and funding cuts have restricted teacher pay
progression, and the national teacher pay structure has been
dismantled. It is no surprise that after a decade of attacks on
teacher pay, we struggle to recruit and keep the teachers and
school leaders we need.
“Even the higher increases for early career teachers are not
enough to make the significant restoration in the value of
teacher pay that is the essential first step to repairing the
damage caused by pay cuts.
“Government needs to show it values teachers and school leaders
by urgently restoring the value of their pay. That means a
significantly higher pay increase applied equally to all teachers
and school leaders. It also means a properly funded national
teacher pay structure offering pay levels competitive with other
graduate professions. PRP must be removed and be replaced by
career and pay progression to reward the acquisition of skills
and experience.
“The Government's policy of cutting back teacher and school
leader pay, restricting pay progression and imposing PRP has
created the current problems. An effective solution must involve
reversing those policies and investing to make sure we attract
and retain the teachers and school leaders we need.”
Geoff Barton, General Secretary, Association of School and
College Lecturers
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education
Union
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary, National Education
Union
Deborah Lawson, General Secretary, Voice the Union
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary, National Association of Head
Teachers
