Teachers’ pay plummets while £4 billion sits in school balances

“It is clear from the emerging findings from the survey that teachers continue to be denied their entitlements in relation to an annual pay award and pay progression.

“It is a shocking indictment of the failure of Government and employers to ensure that teachers are recognised and rewarded as highly skilled professionals that, year on year since 2011, the percentage of the school budget allocated for teachers’ pay has dramatically reduced and now stands at an average of only 46% across the school system.

“Last year the Secretary of State deliberately denied teachers the pay to which the Independent Review Body considered they were entitled by imposing his own recommendation in place of the Review Body’s. The figures from the NASUWT illustrate the damaging effect that this has had on teachers’ pay.

“To add insult to injury in this pay round the Government has forced the Review Body to abandon its timetable for taking evidence on teachers’ pay for 2019/20 stating it does not know when it will be able to get its evidence ready. This is simply treating teachers with contempt.

“It is yet another illustration of the reason why the education service is facing the worst teacher recruitment and retention crisis since World War Two.

“Teachers are rightly angry and frustrated at the seeming indifference of ministers to ensure they are recognised and rewarded fairly for the work they do.

“The NASUWT is continuing to support members across the country who are determined to challenge their employer on pay by taking industrial action.  More and more teachers are contacting the Union every day, seeking our support to stand up on pay and the other issues of deep concern to them, particularly excessive workload and pupil indiscipline.”

ENDS