This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-66360677
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Teacher strikes in England end as all four unions accept pay deal | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Teachers last went on strike at the beginning of July | |
| Teacher strikes have ended in England, after all four unions in a dispute with the government accepted a 6.5% pay rise. | |
| Members of the NEU, the UK's largest teaching union, voted overwhelmingly to accept the pay offer. | |
| The NASUWT and NAHT unions also accepted the deal on Monday, with ASCL doing the same earlier in July. | |
| The education secretary said the offer being accepted was "good news" for teachers, parents and pupils. | The education secretary said the offer being accepted was "good news" for teachers, parents and pupils. |
| Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the deal meant the average teacher's salary would increase by £2,500. | Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the deal meant the average teacher's salary would increase by £2,500. |
| "It's not all that we wanted, and we will continue to campaign for better school funding and for a restoration of teacher pay - but for a one-year pay award, it is a significant achievement," she told the BBC. | "It's not all that we wanted, and we will continue to campaign for better school funding and for a restoration of teacher pay - but for a one-year pay award, it is a significant achievement," she told the BBC. |
| Both sides in the dispute said the pay offer was "properly funded" and would not come from existing school budgets. | |
| Head teachers accept England pay rise | Head teachers accept England pay rise |
| Public sector workers offered pay rises of around 6% | Public sector workers offered pay rises of around 6% |
| NEU teachers in England have been on strike on eight days since February - seven national and one regional - forcing many schools to close. | NEU teachers in England have been on strike on eight days since February - seven national and one regional - forcing many schools to close. |
| All four unions have been balloting members since May about holding strikes in the autumn term, and said they would co-ordinate that strike action for maximum impact. | |
| The NAHT, NASUWT and NEU announced on Monday that their members had voted in favour of those strikes - but that no further action would take place following separate votes to accept the pay offer. | |
| Most state school teachers in England had a 5% pay rise for the year 2022-23. | |
| The unions had been calling for above-inflation pay rises for teachers, funded by extra money from government to protect school budgets. | |
| The 6.5% rise for 2023-24 was recommended by the School Teachers' Review Body after an earlier government offer was rejected. | |
| Ministers announced the latest offer on 13 July and, in a joint statement with union leaders, agreed to "wider reforms" to reduce staff workload. | |
| Ms Keegan said the end of the dispute would allow more time to "focus on what matters most - giving our children a world-class education". | |
| "None of that is possible without the hard work of teachers," she added. | |
| The NEU's support staff members in England also accepted the pay deal. They did not reach the required turnout for strike action earlier in the year. | |
| 'I was supportive - but I'm delighted strikes are over' | 'I was supportive - but I'm delighted strikes are over' |
| Jane James says she was "massively supportive" of the strikes - and her daughter was "very productive" working at home on the days her school was closed | Jane James says she was "massively supportive" of the strikes - and her daughter was "very productive" working at home on the days her school was closed |
| By Alice Evans | By Alice Evans |
| Some parents had to take the day off when schools closed on strike days, with others juggling childcare with working from home. | Some parents had to take the day off when schools closed on strike days, with others juggling childcare with working from home. |
| Jane James, who runs an educational drama and singing business, felt "really lucky" to be self-employed with more flexible working hours than other parents. | Jane James, who runs an educational drama and singing business, felt "really lucky" to be self-employed with more flexible working hours than other parents. |
| Her daughter, who was working towards her GCSEs, found it "very productive to be at home" on the two days her school was closed, because her teachers gave her enough support to be able to study on her own. | Her daughter, who was working towards her GCSEs, found it "very productive to be at home" on the two days her school was closed, because her teachers gave her enough support to be able to study on her own. |
| Jane, from Leyland, Lancs, was "massively supportive" of better pay for teachers but also "really delighted that there's now been a solution found". | Jane, from Leyland, Lancs, was "massively supportive" of better pay for teachers but also "really delighted that there's now been a solution found". |
| "I'm not sure that striking is always the right way - but if you're not getting heard, something has to happen," she said. | "I'm not sure that striking is always the right way - but if you're not getting heard, something has to happen," she said. |
| "I just hope that ultimately, we avoid [further action] at all costs." | "I just hope that ultimately, we avoid [further action] at all costs." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Teaching | Teaching |
| National Education Union | National Education Union |
| Strike action | Strike action |