England Schools Must Fund Part of Teacher Pay Rises

The Department for Education announced that schools must cover the initial 1% of teacher pay awards beginning in September. Teachers will receive a 3.5% increase this year and a 3% increase in 2027 under recommendations from the School Teachers' Review Body.

The National Education Union stated it is considering all options, including a formal strike ballot. The union had previously warned it would hold such a ballot in October if the government did not provide a fully funded pay offer above inflation.

The government will provide an additional £1.8 billion to schools over two years and £485 million to colleges and further education providers over the same period. Academy trust executives will face a pay cap of £174,000 from September, with trusts required to obtain government approval for higher salaries.

A National Education Union statement said the requirement for schools to fund part of the award would mean cuts to education and the loss of 8,300 staff positions. The union also referenced a separate £15 billion defense spending announcement made earlier in the week.

The Association of School and College Leaders described the requirement as very challenging for many schools. Education officials said the multi-year pay deal, supported by additional investment, recognizes teachers' contributions and provides budget certainty.