Kate Green comments on premium for maths and science teachers

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the Prime Minister announcing a recycled policy of a premium for maths and science teachers which the Government had only recently scrapped, said:

“The Conservatives have no idea how to improve education and outcomes for young people. The premium announced today is a less generous recycling of an old policy that Boris Johnson’s government scrapped just a year ago.

“Under the Conservatives teacher vacancies have more than doubled, school funding will be lower in real terms next year than it was in 2010 and the promised £30,000 teacher starting salary has still not been delivered.

“Labour has set out a clear plan to deliver an excellent education to all with over 6,500 new teachers and ongoing professional training to ensure every child is taught by a highly skilled expert teacher. Combined with professional careers advice and reintroducing compulsory work experience, and embedding digital skills across the curriculum, Labour would ensure every young person leaves school with the skills they need for life."

Ends

Notes to editors

• The premium announced today is not new, but recycles the early career payments the Government has recently scrapped:
  
  

• • “DfE announces retention payments for NQTs in shortage subjects in 39 high-need areas in England” - Tes, 2019

  • “Retention payments will not be available to trainees starting their courses in 2021-22, after DfE decision to scrap the scheme” - Tes, October 2020

• School funding will be lower in real terms in 2023 than in 2010 - IFS

• • Schools in the most deprived communities have been hit hardest:

  • Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, average per-pupil funding in the most deprived fifth of schools fell in real terms by 1.2%, while per-pupil funding in the least deprived fifth increased by 2.9%. In total, 58.3% of the most deprived fifth of schools saw a real-terms decrease in per-pupil funding. - NAO

• Teacher vacancies have more than doubled. - DfE School Workforce data

• The promised £30,000 starting salary has still not been delivered. - Tes