“Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis” NASUWT tells pay review body
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.
Today’s oral evidence session follows the submission by the NASUWT of detailed written evidence to the Review Body, which makes recommendations to the Secretary of State on teachers’ pay for England and Wales.
The NASUWT’s evidence sets out:
· the growing crisis in the profession, with nearly two thirds of teachers considering leaving teaching altogether;
· the increasing discrimination and unfairness in decision making about teachers’ pay as a result of the Coalition Government’s changes to the pay system; and
· the adverse impact on children and young people as teaching becomes an increasingly uncompetitive and unattractive profession as a result of Coalition Government policies.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“The NASUWT has made a powerful evidence-based case for teachers receiving a significant above-inflation pay award.
“Since the Coalition Government came into office there have been deep cuts to teachers’ pay and increasing unfairness and discrimination in the way pay decisions are made at school level.
“Today we made representations on the 2015 cost of living award in a context where recent evidence shows that many teachers have not received the 1% cost of living award to which they were entitled in September this year.
“The cumulative effect of over four years of pay cuts and pay freezes has left teachers thousands of pounds worse off.
“Salaries have become increasingly uncompetitive when compared with other post-graduate professions and as teaching becomes increasingly unattractive as a result of the Coalition Government’s relentless attacks on pay, pensions and working conditions, recruitment and retention is on the precipice of a crisis.
“Resignations are up and applications for teacher training are down.
“All children and young people are entitled to be taught by those who are rewarded as highly-skilled professionals.
“This entitlement is being seriously compromised and the quality of education is being jeopardised.
“The Review Body must assert its independence, follow the evidence, and reject the Coalition Government’s flawed and punitive public sector pay policy.”
Notes to editors
The NASUWT’s evidence submission to the Review Body is attached.
NASUWT analysis shows that teachers are thousands of pounds worse off since 2010 as a result of four and a half years of pay freezes and pay caps.
M1-teachers have lost £11,279
M6-teachers have lost £16,487
UPS1-teachers have lost £17,861
UPS3-teachers have lost £19,206
These figures cover the period 2010 to 2015.
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