All four major teaching unions have said they are ready to call off strike action after the Government confirmed it would offer a 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers.
Rishi Sunak announced on Thursday he had accepted the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), marking an end to seven-month battle over teachers’ pay.
In a joint statement, the National Education Union (NEU), Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and NASUWT said it was the “largest ever recommendation” from the independent pay review body.
The unions said they would urge members to accept the 6.5 per cent rise for next year, which would “allow teachers and school leaders to call off strike action and resume normal relations with Government”.
The deal will be “properly funded”, with the Government set to offer £900m additional funding each year for all schools in England. It is understood that the cash will amount to 3 per cent, with the other 3.5 per cent set to come from existing budgets.
The NEU said it had received assurances the extra money will not come from any frontline services, including Special Educational Needs (SEND) funding, schools’ capital, maintained nursery services or funding provision for 16-19-year-olds.
The Department for Education will also provide a hardship fund of up to £40m to support those schools facing the greatest financial challenges and commit to a starting salary of £30,000 for all teachers.
