Teachers set to strike as schools face cuts to fund new pay deal

Teachers are set to hold nationwide strikes after ministers announced schools face cuts to fund a new pay rise of 3.5 per cent.

The National Education Union (NEU) said it would ‘not accept’ the deal, which will see teachers paid 3.5 per cent more from September and a further 3 per cent the following year.

While it is more generous than the original proposal of 6.5 per cent across three years, it will not be ‘fully funded’.

Schools will be expected to find 1 per cent of the pay rise for each year from existing budgets, which in reality may mean redundancies.

It means the NEU, which has 500,000 members, is set to continue with its formal strike ballot this October, following a successful indicative ballot in the spring. Walk-outs will take place after Christmas.

Union officials are confident they will get enough votes to hold the biggest nationwide strikes in recent memory.

The announcement by the Government comes after it accepted the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which is independent.

Reacting today, Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary, said: ‘Pressure from the NEU has forced the government beyond its original pay and funding offer. 

‘But let us be clear: a partially funded settlement still means cuts to education, and the NEU will never accept that.

‘Schools are being asked to find £460 million from budgets already at breaking point. This is the equivalent of 8,300 school staff: 3,900 teachers and 4,400 support staff.

‘Ministers cannot claim to want more teachers while overseeing such a drastic reduction in numbers next year.

‘In Makerfield, in Andy Burnham’s constituency, that means 40 schools being forced to find £866,842 collectively from their own budgets simply to meet the government’s requirement to fund part of this pay award.’ 

Mr Kebede also pointed out that the pay rises may not match inflation for the next two years.

UK inflation was 2.8 per cent, as of the latest figures covering the year to May.

But the Bank of England said in April that UK inflation could peak at 3.6 or 3.7 per cent by the end of this year, and could reach 6 per cent next year in the worst-case scenario. 

Predictions of inflation have been made more difficult by the uncertainty caused by the conflict between the US and Iran.

The National Education Union (NEU) said it would ‘not accept’ the deal, which will see teachers paid 3.5 per cent more from September and a further 3 per cent the following year (pictured: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson)

Mr Kebede added: ‘With inflation set to rise, members know this offer is not the decisive shift needed to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2010 or restore the competitiveness of teacher pay.

‘Underfunding damages learning, narrows opportunity, drives staff shortages and pushes workload beyond breaking point.’ 

The NEU is likely to coordinate its strike action with sister union NASUWT, which is also planning a ballot for walk-outs over the same issue.

In addition, the NEU is on a drive to expand its membership, especially among support staff such as dinner ladies, teaching assistants and librarians, to cause maximum disruption. 

It will mean chaos for schools across the country, with pupils missing out on vital work and parents having to find last-minute childcare.

Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, said: ‘This is another kick in the teeth for schools, who have been let down time and again by Bridget Phillipson’s broken promises.

‘Schools are being left to find nearly half a billion to cover unfunded pay awards. That money has to come from somewhere, and it will mean more teachers losing their jobs.

‘It is no surprise that teachers and parents are losing confidence in [her].’

While it is more generous than the original proposal of 6.5 per cent across three years, it will not be ‘fully funded’ (pictured: Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott)

In October, the Department for Education (DfE) suggested in its evidence to the STRB that teachers’ pay should rise by 6.5 per cent across 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 – a less generous offer than the one announced today.

This afternoon, the DfE said additional funding of £1.8 billion will be provided to schools over two years to support pay rises for teachers and support staff, and an additional £485 million will be provided to colleges and further education providers over the same timeframe. 

Today’s announcement also included a promise that academy trust executives’ pay will be capped at £174,000 from September.

Trusts will need to seek government approval before advertising roles over that salary.

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said: ‘Our brilliant school and college teachers go above and beyond every day, and I’m determined that dedication is not just recognised, but rewarded.

‘This multi-year deal, backed by significant additional investment, shows the immense value we place in our teachers, while giving schools and colleges certainty over pay and their budgets.

‘It’s also right that classroom teachers are not seeing executive pay rise faster than their own – or set at excessive levels in the first place – so tighter controls will mean unjustifiable exec salaries become a thing of the past, helping level the playing field for school staff and drive every pound towards classrooms.’