Fund Fair Pay

It’s a New Year. It’s a new government. But our schools are still burdened with the same old problems.

Teachers’ pay has fallen relative to other professionals and compared with other public sector workers. As a result, schools have the worst recruitment and retention crisis for twenty years. Everyone in education agrees that we need a teacher pay correction to deal with it.

Without guaranteed funding for the rise, schools and colleges will be left to make impossible choices – cut staff, cut resources, or both.

Schools, our children and education just can’t afford any more cuts. More schools are in deficit now than at any point since at least 2010. Just 3 per cent of primary schools and 6 per cent of secondaries say they are financially secure.

We have the highest primary class sizes in Europe and the highest secondary class sizes on record. More than a million pupils are taught in classes of over 30.

We will work with this government where we can and press it where we must. If the government does not change course, our indicative ballot will open on 1 March and run until 11 April. You, our members, will determine the next steps we take.

We are prepared to do what is necessary to ensure fairness for our pupils and secure the future of our schools.