Commenting on the report of the Education Policy Institute (EPI)
which finds that after a surge in teacher numbers following the
pandemic, the subsequent economic recovery could result in a
large proportion of this new intake quitting for other
occupations, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association
of School and College Leaders, said:
“We agree that there’s a significant danger of new teachers
quitting for other jobs as the economy recovers and that the
benefits of the upturn in teacher numbers could be quickly lost.
Competitive pay is therefore clearly a crucial element in
reducing this risk.
“This makes it all the more unfathomable that the government has
declared its intention to freeze the pay of teachers in the
academic year starting in September, which is effectively a pay
cut in real terms. Not only is this a kick in the teeth for
long-standing staff who have worked incredibly hard to support
their pupils during the course of the pandemic, but it is an
active disincentive to both them and to new recruits to stay in
the profession.
“The EPI report discusses targeted top-up salary payments and
flexibility for higher pay in local labour markets. However, the
main problem is that years of government-imposed real-terms cuts
to the pay of teachers and leaders has eroded the competitiveness
of teaching as a career choice in general, and has also been
extremely damaging to retention.
“This needs to be addressed through a significant
across-the-board increase in pay which is fully funded by the
government in order to ensure that schools have the numbers of
teachers they need and that they are able to retain experienced
staff. This is crucial in delivering a great education to all
pupils.”
