Teachers' Pay Offer Falls Short Amid Funding Crisis

Teachers in England face another year of real-terms pay cuts, despite a recommended 3.9% pay rise from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The government is currently proposing just a 2.8% increase — below the expected rate of inflation — and with no additional funding, schools would be forced to cover the cost from their existing budgets.

This comes against the backdrop of a 20% real-terms decline in teacher pay since 2010, according to NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede. The erosion is the result of over a decade of below-inflation settlements, contributing to growing recruitment and retention crises across the profession.

Last year, the government funded a 5.5% pay rise with an extra £1.2bn, showing that political pressure can produce results. That settlement slightly exceeded inflation at the time and helped stave off further strikes — highlighting that the current reluctance to offer more generous, funded increases is a political choice rather than an economic necessity.

With the profession under increasing strain, unions are preparing to act. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, said his union is ready to ballot members for strike action if the government:

Fails to match the STRB pay recommendation

Offers a rise below inflation

Does not fully fund the award

The NEU (National Education Union) has already conducted an indicative ballot:

93.7% rejected the proposed 2.8% pay rise

83.4% said they were willing to strike over the issue

These figures reflect a system buckling under pressure. In this context, the role of the unions will be vital — not just in resisting pay erosion but in proposing transitional demands to defend public education and push for wider social investment. Coordinated industrial action may be the lever needed to reshape priorities in favour of schools, staff, and students.