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Teachers' strikes: Will there be more? Teachers' strikes: Will there be more?
(3 months later)
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. Members of the National Education Union (NEU), England's largest teaching union, will vote on taking strike action if the government sticks with its 2.8% pay offer for the 2025-26 academic year.
If it is turned down, the union will debate at its conference in April whether to vote for industrial action, which could include strikes. They agreed to launch a formal ballot if the pay offer "remains unacceptable or if the government does not announce real terms funding increases".
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. The NEU announcement does not mean teachers in England are about to walk out.
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 union will need to reject a final decision from the government on teacher pay - including both the size of the pay rise, and whether or not there will be any additional funding for it.
The NEU's ballot will open on 1 March and run until mid-April. If it does launch a formal ballot, enough members would need to vote and support strike action. That ballot could open for several months, meaning any strike action would likely take place in the autumn term at the earliest.
Teachers received a 5.5% pay rise last September in England, funded by an additional £1.2bn from the government. Last week, results from an informal ballot showed 93.7% of members rejected the offer and 83.4% said they would be willing to strike. The turnout was 47.2%.
Government departments have since recommended a pay rise of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers, including teachers, for next year NEU members went on strike over pay in the first half of 2023, forcing many schools to close on eight days of action. The NEU called off action after the government revised its 2023 offer to 6.5%.
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. Teachers were then given a 5.5% rise in 2024.
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". In December, the government recommended a 2.8% pay rise for 2025.
What do teachers want?What do teachers want?
EnglandEngland
In March 2024, teaching unions jointly called for a "fully funded, inflation-plus" pay rise, external for 2024/25. In a letter to Education Bridget Phillipson after the government's recommendation of a 2.8% pay rise, teaching unions said they had been clear that the 5.5% increase in 2024 "must be only the first in a series of fully funded, above inflation pay increases needed to correct teacher and school leader pay".
They also called for "significant improvements" on workload, saying that was also needed to address problems recruiting and retaining teachers. They said that the value of teacher pay had fallen since 2010, which, coupled with "excessive workload", had contributed to a "crisis" in recruitment and retention.
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. They also want the government to fund the pay rise so that schools do not have to pay for it through existing budgets. At present, the government expects, external that most schools will have to make "efficiencies" in order to afford the additional cost.
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. 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.
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
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).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).
Long-running action ended in November 2023 after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding.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
In September 2024, Scottish teaching unions unanimously accepted a pay offer of 4.27%. In September 2024, Scottish teaching unions unanimously accepted a pay offer of 4.27% for the current academic year.
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 December, members of three of the main teaching unions in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for strike action over pay. A potential strike by Northern Ireland's teachers was averted this month.
The NASUWT, INTO and UTU unions balloted their members on industrial action in November. In February, teachers rejected an offer of 5.5% and started action short of strike in schools.
They said they were holding the vote due to the lack of a "satisfactory pay offer" for 2024/25. But unions have now accepted a revised deal. The pay rise will remain at 5.5%, but the agreement also contained commitments to address concerns about workloads.
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.
The new Labour government repealed the previous government's minimum service level law, which unions had called "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 £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.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 £75,300, and £60,500 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 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.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.