Teachers in sixth form colleges in England will get a pay rise of
up to 2%, backdated to September 2017, following negotiations
between the National Education Union (NEU) and the Sixth Form
Colleges Association (SFCA).
This week the SFCA colleges’ national body agreed to
increase its pay offer to match the September 2017 increase for
teachers working in schools. The agreement will give sixth form
teachers on points 1 to 6 of the national pay scale a 2% rise
from 1 September 2017 and teachers above point 6 of the pay scale
a 1% rise from the same date.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National
Education Union, said: “Sixth form college teachers will be
pleased that their pay will increase in line with school teachers
for another year. The National Education Union worked hard
to achieve this deal for its members, who showed their resolution
to get a fair deal by rejecting the previous offer. The
increase is, however, still below inflation and the NEU will
continue to lobby to secure fully funded higher pay for teachers
in schools and colleges alike.”
The agreement was reached after NEU members had rejected the
previous pay offer and agreed to be balloted for industrial
action if necessary.
The agreement will keep pay for teachers in sixth form colleges
in line with that of school teachers, after the 2016 pay
agreement restored that parity after several years’ break.
Sixth form college teachers’ pay, unlike that for school
teachers, also retains fixed pay scale points and has an agreed
annual pay progression process.
The NEU will continue to lobby the Government to provide more
funding for sixth form colleges, as well as for schools, as the
post-16 sector has suffered even greater real-terms funding cuts
than schools since 2010.
