Commenting on an email sent by the Education Secretary last night which detailed her views on school funding and the current pay offer, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Gillian Keegan is profoundly out of touch with teachers, support staff and school leaders, and the pressures they are under. We know that members find this pay offer insulting, and it is surprising that such widespread condemnation has not registered with her.
“Keegan’s email displays a misunderstanding of inflation, that if it comes down then it is irrelevant and inconsequential that it was ever high in the first place. Our members have lived through those price rises, as have the rest of the general public. It has left a gap in school finances as well as those of individual workers.
“Her message also displays a total disregard for the situation heads are in. It is not good enough to tell them there is enough money in the system if it isn’t distributed to the point of need. Using universal totals to speak to individual school leaders about individual affordability, is economic nonsense.
