School strikes suspended as teaching unions urge members to back pay deal

13 July 2023 , 12:06

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Teachers have been taking part in rolling strike action (Image: Zuma Press/PA Images)

The threat of mass school strikes this autumn has been put on hold as education unions urged their members to accept a 6.5% pay offer.

Rishi Sunak finally confirmed today that the Government would accept the recommendations of pay review bodies for wage hikes for millions of public sector workers.

The four major teaching unions said they would recommend that their members accept the deal after a bitter stalemate over pay, funding and working conditions.

In a major shift, the NASUWT, the National Education Union (NEU), and school leaders' unions ASCL and NAHT, issued a joint statement with the PM and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan supporting the offer. They said it would "allow teachers and school leaders to call off strike action and resume normal relations with Government."

It comes only a day after NASUWT members voted overwhelmingly for strikes in England after missing the legal turnout threshold in January.

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Schools have faced significant disruption due to strike action (PA)

The NEU has already held seven days of nationwide strikes and three regional strikes in recent months. It has been balloting members to extend its strike mandate. ASCL and the NAHT were also in the midst of asking members whether they wanted to take industrial action.

In a joint statement with the PM and the Education Secretary, the union leaders said: “This is the largest ever recommendation from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). A 6.5% increase for teachers and school leaders recognises the vital role that teachers play in our country and ensures that teaching will continue to be an attractive profession. The Government has accepted the STRB’s recommendation and has agreed to bring forward wider reforms to reduce teacher and leader workload in partnership with all four unions.

“Importantly, the Government’s offer is properly funded for schools. The Government has committed that all schools will receive additional funding above what was proposed in March - building on the additional £2 billion given to schools in the Autumn Statement. The Government will also provide a hardship fund of up to £40 million to support those schools facing the greatest financial challenges.

“ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT and NEU will now put this deal to members, with a recommendation to accept the STRB recommendation. This deal will allow teachers and school leaders to call off strike action and resume normal relations with government.”

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Lizzy Buchan