NEU recommends members take teacher pay offer

The National Education Union has recommended that its members accept the government’s offer offer of a 5.5 per cent pay rise for teachers and leaders.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the 5.5 per cent pay award, which was recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) at the end of July.

The government says the award will apply from 1 September and is equivalent to an increase of over £2,500 for the average teacher, which would take the median salary for 2024 to 2025 to over £49,000.

Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We believe this is a significant first - but not last - step towards a long-term correction in teacher pay, secured as a direct consequence of members' strike action in 2023 and their positive indicative ballot this March.

“The executive voted to recommend that members accept the offer. There will be a snap poll of NEU members between 21-30 September.

“It remains the case that more needs to be done to remedy teacher pay, workload and the recruitment and retention crisis. The Government should be under no illusion that a single pay deal is an end to the matter.”