NASUWT

Teachers’ pay report based on flawed methodologies

Teachers’ pay report based on flawed methodologies

Responding to the report published today by the University of Bristol which claims that the centralised setting of teachers’ pay is having a negative impact on pupils’ learning, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, said: 

“The assertions made in this report are based on flawed methodologies and a failure to understand the realities of teaching and the wider labour market. 


“The report fails to take into account the wide range of factors that may impact on rates of pupil progress and is based on a fatal misunderstanding of the nature of the national pay framework for teachers.

“Contrary to assertions in this research, the national pay framework for teachers is a flexible structure which gives schools the scope to respond to local labour market circumstances and needs and which encourages the recruitment and retention of high calibre professionals.

“The NASUWT believes that attempts to disparage the national pay framework for teachers are part of a wider move to instigate a race to the bottom on teachers' pay that will make schools ripe for speculative privatisation and profiteering.

“There is no evidence that the national pay framework is undermining standards of education or is deterring teachers from joining or remaining in the profession, quite the reverse. 

“There is extensive evidence and research which shows that the introduction of local and regional pay for teachers would drive down wages in the poorest parts of the country and could result in teacher shortages in some areas as teachers migrate to areas where pay levels are higher.

“The national pay framework for teachers helps to uphold high standards of teaching and learning through the provision of high quality induction arrangements for new entrants to the profession, incremental pay progression which is dependant on teachers’ performance and a fair pay structure for part time and supply teachers.

“Many of the highest performing education systems internationally have adopted national pay frameworks, as have many of the leading public and private and private sector organisations. They recognise that this helps to provide consistency of service and high standards.”