Commenting on analysis from the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER), which states that a teacher pay
increase of 6.5 per cent will not be enough on its own to make a
significant difference to long-term teacher supply, Geoff Barton,
General Secretary of the Association of School and College
Leaders, said:
“The NFER is absolutely right that a 6.5% pay award next year
will not on its own solve the teacher recruitment and retention
crisis. It would, however, be a step in the right direction
provided there is adequate funding for schools to be able to
afford the pay award.
“However, as it stands, the government has not even agreed to
this figure, let alone committed to anything remotely resembling
a long-term strategy to address teacher shortages. In fact,
reports suggest the Prime Minister is arguing that it should be
much less than 6.5%.
“Teacher recruitment and retention problems are now so serious
that this is something akin to an existential crisis. Schools and
colleges are struggling to put qualified teachers in front of
classes and it is only a matter of time before they are not able
to do so any longer. This isn’t a problem that has happened
overnight. It is the result of more than a decade of pay erosion,
inadequate funding and rising workloads caused by these systemic
pressures.
“This is compounded by the fact that we have entered a new era in
which many workers in many professions are able to enjoy the
flexibility and benefits of hybrid working in a way that is not
possible for teachers and some workers in other public services.
The government has to understand and react to this societal
change with a much sharper focus on the rewards and benefits of
public service jobs in order to ensure that we actually have
enough public servants.”
