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Teachers' strikes: Will there be more? Teachers' strikes: Will there be more?
(4 months later)
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have voted to hold a formal strike ballot if they reject this summer's pay offer. The National Education Union (NEU), England's largest teaching union, is voting on whether to accept or reject the government's pay offer of 2.8% for the 2025-26 academic year.
Teacher strikes took place across the UK last year over pay, including eight days of walkouts by NEU members in England. If it is turned down, the union will debate at its conference in April whether to vote for industrial action, which could include strikes.
The four teaching unions in the dispute with the government in England accepted an offer last July, but are continuing to campaign for pay rises in the next school year. A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson called it "an extraordinary decision" by the union.
Are more strikes planned?Are more strikes planned?
No more full strikes are planned at this stage, although the threat of future action has not been ruled out.No more full strikes are planned at this stage, although the threat of future action has not been ruled out.
Members of the NEU had debated whether - and when - to hold a formal strike ballot over pay for 2024-25 at their annual conference in Bournemouth. Such a ballot could lead to more school strikes from September. The School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), an independent group for teachers' pay, will recommend a formal pay offer later this year. The BBC understands that head teacher unions are likely to wait for this before making any decisions of their own.
The Department for Education (DfE) has called the threat of another strikes ballot "extremely disappointing". The NEU's ballot will open on 1 March and run until mid-April.
Last July, the NEU, the largest teaching union, as well as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and NASUWT accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise for 2023-24. Teachers received a 5.5% pay rise last September in England, funded by an additional £1.2bn from the government.
NASUWT members decided overwhelmingly against having a new formal ballot on more industrial action over pay and working conditions this year. Government departments have since recommended a pay rise of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers, including teachers, for next year
ASCL halted its strike ballot after accepting the government's pay offer last summer, and has held no further ballots or had any sort of industrial action since then. In July 2023, the NEU, as well as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and NASUWT unions all accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise for 2023/24.
The NAHT has also not held another ballot. But unions are continuing to campaign on teacher pay for what they call pay restoration, to compensate for years of below-inflation increases. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says there has been a "long period of real-terms reductions in teacher salaries dating back to 2010".
What do teachers want?What do teachers want?
EnglandEngland
In March, the NAHT, ASCL, Community, NASUWT and NEU teaching unions jointly called for a "fully funded, inflation-plus" pay rise, external for 2024-25. In March 2024, teaching unions jointly called for a "fully funded, inflation-plus" pay rise, external for 2024/25.
They also called for "significant improvements" on workload, saying that was also needed to address problems recruiting and retaining teachers.They also called for "significant improvements" on workload, saying that was also needed to address problems recruiting and retaining teachers.
Each year, the independent School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) hears submissions from each side and makes recommendations on teacher pay to the government, who ultimately decide on how much to award. In July 2024, the chancellor Rachel Reeves told Parliament she had accepted "in full" the recommendations of the STRB, which called for increases to teachers' pay of 5.5% at all grades.
In its own evidence submitted to the STRB in February,, external the DfE said teacher pay should "return to a more sustainable level" after "two unprecedented years". Each year, the independent STRB hears submissions from each side and makes recommendations on teacher pay to the government, who ultimately decide on how much to award.
But the unions called for the STRB to recommend "urgent significant additional investment" in schools. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked, external the STRB for their recommendations on 2025/26 teacher pay "at the earliest point" and warned of the "challenging financial position this government has inherited".
Four education unions - the NAHT, ASCL, NASUWT and NEU - responded to Phillipson in December, saying they are concerned about the "inadequate and underfunded pay recommendation" of 2.8% for the 2025/26 academic year.
WalesWales
Long-running action ended on 17 November after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding. The Welsh Government made a pay offer for 2024/25 in line with England's 5.5% teacher pay rise, which was higher than the 4.3% recommended by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB).
Members had been restricting their hours since February 2023 in a dispute with Wales's 22 local councils. Long-running action ended in November 2023 after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding.
ScotlandScotland
Last year's dispute ended in Scotland when unions accepted a 7% rise for 2022-23, backdated to April. They also accepted a 5% rise in April 2023, and a 2% rise in January 2024. In September 2024, Scottish teaching unions unanimously accepted a pay offer of 4.27%.
The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) has since submitted a claim for a pay rise of 6.5%, external to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which represents schools, councils and the Scottish government.The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) has since submitted a claim for a pay rise of 6.5%, external to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which represents schools, councils and the Scottish government.
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
In March, all five of Northern Ireland's recognised teachers' unions - the Ulster Teachers' Union, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the NAHT, NEU and NASUWT - accepted pay offers for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24., external In December, members of three of the main teaching unions in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for strike action over pay.
The pay offer will see starting salaries rise to £30,000 and represents a cumulative total rise of 10.4%, plus a £1,000 increase to other teachers and leadership pay scales. The NASUWT, INTO and UTU unions balloted their members on industrial action in November.
A meeting of the Teachers' Negotiating Committee to ratify the deal is expected to see an end to the campaign of industrial action which has been ongoing since 2022. They said they were holding the vote due to the lack of a "satisfactory pay offer" for 2024/25.
The teaching unions in Northern Ireland accepted a previous pay deal in March 2024, but that was a backdated one covering the years from 2021 to 2024.
The pay offer saw starting salaries rise to £30,000 and represented a cumulative total rise of 10.4%, plus a £1,000 increase to other teachers and leadership pay scales.
Will my child's school close if strikes happen?Will my child's school close if strikes happen?
Although none are currently planned, schools in England should open where possible in the event of a teachers' strike, the government says., externalAlthough none are currently planned, schools in England should open where possible in the event of a teachers' strike, the government says., external
Teachers do not have to declare in advance if they intend to strike, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about school closures.Teachers do not have to declare in advance if they intend to strike, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about school closures.
Head teachers take a decision on whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning of industrial action, once staff numbers are known.Head teachers take a decision on whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning of industrial action, once staff numbers are known.
Under new minimum service level proposals due to come into force by September, unions will have to ensure schools in England stay open on strike days - but the unions have called the new rules "undemocratic". The new Labour government repealed the previous government's minimum service level law, which unions had called "undemocratic".
Can parents take time off, and what else do you need to know?Can parents take time off, and what else do you need to know?
In England, you can ask for leave to care for "family and dependants", including emergency childcare.In England, you can ask for leave to care for "family and dependants", including emergency childcare.
Your employer must not refuse a reasonable request, but you may not be paid. Alternatively you may be able to take holiday or unpaid parental leave.Your employer must not refuse a reasonable request, but you may not be paid. Alternatively you may be able to take holiday or unpaid parental leave.
Schools are asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers' children during strikes. They are also asked to try to prevent, or reduce, any disruption to exams and other formal assessments.Schools are asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers' children during strikes. They are also asked to try to prevent, or reduce, any disruption to exams and other formal assessments.
The NEU issued guidance to support arrangements for head teachers to "provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed" on strike days so students who had exams coming up could attend school.The NEU issued guidance to support arrangements for head teachers to "provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed" on strike days so students who had exams coming up could attend school.
Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals, external if they close.Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals, external if they close.
How much are teachers paid?How much are teachers paid?
Classroom teachers were paid an average of £38,982 in the 2021-22 school year in England, £39,009 in Wales and £40,026 in Scotland. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure. Classroom teachers were paid an average of £43,100 in the 2023/24 school year in England and £47,340 in Wales. In Scotland teacher pay is higher, where fully qualified teachers who have passed their probation start on £40,305.
The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders. The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £75,300, and £60,500 for other senior leaders.
Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.
As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Employers also contribute 23.68% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 14.38%. Employers also contribute 28.6% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 23.7%, which includes 14.38% from employers and 9.4% made centrally from NHS England.
What's happening in colleges?
In a separate dispute, tens of thousands of students in sixth form colleges across England were disrupted by strike action in December 2024 and January 2025.
About 2,000 NEU members were expected to take part in a walkout over pay.
The September 2024 teacher pay rise did not include teachers at sixth form colleges that were not part of academies. The DfE says they are responsible for setting their own pay.
In January, the NASUWT union said it would be balloting its own sixth form college members on potential industrial action over the same issue.