In a significant move aimed at addressing years of stagnant wages and recruitment challenges, the UK Government has announced a fully funded 5.5% pay increase for teachers and headteachers in England. The pay award, which takes effect in September, has been welcomed by education unions as an important "first step" in reversing the real-terms pay cuts that educators have faced over the past decade.
The Details of the Pay Increase
The Department for Education (DfE) has accepted the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) "in full," resulting in the 5.5% uplift. This increase translates to more than £2,500 extra annually for the average teacher, pushing the median salary for the 2024/25 academic year to over £49,000. The government has also pledged nearly £1.2 billion in additional funding for schools in the 2024/25 financial year to help cover the costs associated with the pay award and support staff pay offers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the importance of this investment, stating, "Teachers lay the foundations of children’s lives. An investment in them is an investment in the next generation, and this Government is determined to make sure every child—whatever their background—has the opportunity to succeed."
Union Reactions and the Road Ahead
While the pay rise has been broadly welcomed, union leaders have made it clear that there is still much work to be done. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), described the 5.5% pay award as a "necessary first step" but noted that it falls short of fully restoring what teachers and school leaders have lost since 2010. He indicated that the NEU would continue to push for further pay increases in future rounds.
Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, echoed this sentiment, calling the pay rise an "important start" in restoring the competitiveness of teachers’ salaries. "Today’s announcement represents an important start in the process of repairing the damage of the last 14 years," Roach said, referring to years of pay freezes and below-inflation awards that have contributed to the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the teaching profession.
The NEU has announced plans to hold a "snap poll" in September, allowing its members to decide whether the 2024/25 pay offer is acceptable. This comes after last year's industrial action, which saw eight days of strikes in state schools across England as teachers protested against inadequate pay increases.
A Shift in Government Policy
The announcement of the pay rise is seen by many as a significant shift in the government's approach to education. Last year, teachers received a 6.5% pay increase following the STRB’s recommendation, which led to the resolution of coordinated strike action by four unions. This year's pay award, coupled with the removal of the requirement for schools to use the performance-related pay (PRP) system, signals a departure from previous policies that have been criticized for underfunding schools and undervaluing teachers.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the school leaders' union NAHT, praised the pay offer as a "clear sign" that the new government is serious about improving relations with the teaching profession. He also welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment to providing additional funding to ensure that the pay rise is affordable for all schools, particularly as many budgets remain stretched.
Looking Forward
As schools prepare for the new academic year, the focus will now shift to implementing the pay award and ensuring that it makes a tangible difference in addressing the recruitment and retention crisis that has plagued the sector. Union leaders remain cautious but hopeful that this pay rise marks the beginning of a more supportive and collaborative approach to education policy in the UK.
The government’s decision to invest in teachers' pay is a crucial step in recognizing the vital role educators play in shaping the future of the country. As Bridget Phillipson noted, this investment is not just about numbers—it’s about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background. For many teachers and school leaders, the 5.5% uplift is a welcome change, but the journey toward fully restoring the value of their profession is far from over.