Gillian Keegan must show integrity on teacher pay

Responding to reports the Government is set to block any pay rises recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“Gillian Keegan risks demonstrating even more contempt for the teaching profession and a disregard for children’s education if she chooses to disregard the pay review body process.

“Education is already being damaged by the worst teacher recruitment and retention crisis in over 50 years but the Education Secretary appears willing to turn the current crisis into an unmitigated disaster.

“In recent weeks Gillian Keegan has been insistent that the pay review body process will determine teachers’ pay. Our members will be asking whether she has deliberately misled Parliament and the country. She must now show some integrity.

“The truth is that the Minister has been exposed as being out of touch over teachers’ pay, where even the STRB appears to disagree with her.

“We have been calling on the Education Secretary to return to the negotiating table to find a resolution that will command the support of teachers and headteachers. She must do so immediately.

“If the Government chooses to ignore the recommendations of the pay review body, this will have profound consequences for future industrial relations, with industrial action likely in the autumn.

“Teachers have already endured the deepest real-terms pay cut since 1977, during the worst cost of living crisis in 50 years.

“It is in everyone’s interest that the current disputes are brought to an end through negotiation.

“A restorative multi-year pay award for teachers and school leaders is vital to resolving the deep crisis facing our schools.”