Listen to this article

Teachers walked out again over pay and many schools in England were reportedly scheduled to close on Wednesday. This move marked the 6th national strike from the NEU (National Education Union) members in England since February. Our reliable sources have informed us that another strike is also planned for Friday.

It will disrupt all lessons and end-of-term events such as concerts, school trips, and sports days. Schools are stimulating for additional disturbances in the new school year as more strike options occur. Teachers first took to the support lines in woolly hats and held the keynote of the central theme in their hands.

Meanwhile, teachers in England have also received a 5% increase for the year 2022-23. They are now calling for another increase due to growing inflation. The Union also demands additional money to prevent any pay increase coming from the existing budget of schools.

Government’s Pay Increase for the UK Teachers

The situation has supposedly improved since the first strike that took place on February 1. But the collaboration between both sides in this contest is still frozen. There isn’t any discussion on the road between the DfE (Department of Education) and teacher unions.

We have experienced extreme points in recent months and there wasn’t any appropriate solution in sight. After heavy discussions in March, the UK government provided an additional one-off payment of £1,000 to teachers. The government will give a 4.3% pay increase to most teachers next year with starting pay of around £30,000.

The National Education Union and 3 other teacher unions participated in the contest and refused the government offer. So, the UK government’s offered additional one-off payment is still off the table. All 4 unions have announced that they will join other powers to collaborate on any future strike move.

More Strikes Since February 1, 2023

The most recent walkout took place on May 2, 2023. It critically affected more schools in the country and less than half or 45% of schools were able to fully open. Some teenage students who spoke at the time were upset which affected their revision classes for exam preparations.

The National Education Union ensured that it has taken steps to resolve this issue. The Union ensured that schools should remain normal as possible for students participating in examinations this summer. The NEU said 2 factors will supposedly determine future happenings. The first factor is the announcement from a number of teachers for payment in the next year.

The independent pay review body considered this matter. The UK government is currently evaluating the recommendations of the pay review body. However, it is still unclear when any announcement will take place for the payment. We are expecting it could come in late July if previous years added anything improved. Children are also preparing a walkout for the summer holidays.

The Results of Strike Actions

The other factor is to watch the results of strike actions that are currently ongoing in all 4 teacher unions. The NEU, the NAHT, and the NASUWT have asked to start preparation for a strike over pay. The NASUWT and the NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers) are teachers’ unions. The NEU received enough support last time for industrial action to proceed.

Moreover, the ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders) is another active union of head teachers. It is also motivating members for the first time in its entire history. The ASCL informed us that they are worried about the impact pay has on appointing and retaining the staff. There is an expected turmoil of activity in the coming weeks with those institutions set to close in late July.

Teacher Tapp (an online tool) also quizzes thousands of primary and secondary teachers. The platform involved both the state and private sector to share their extraordinary experiences in the classroom. Around 4-in-10 students visited their new secondary schools reserved for strike days this week. They will also see new teachers’ walkouts in the fall season.

A Statement from the General Secretary of NEU

The joint General Secretary of the NEU, Dr. Mary Bousted, issued a statement. She said the rejection from Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to restart the discussion had combined the teaching profession. They have shown anger towards the UK government for failing to acknowledge crucial challenges. The government should address these disputes in the UK education system.

Meanwhile, a DfE official also issued a statement that schools in the UK are getting significant extra funding. This is part of the additional £2bn investment the department is offering for 2023-24 and 2024-25 sessions. It will give school funding to its higher levels in the history next year that the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies) measured.

The IFS issued a statement in December 2022 that the government has improved funding to school spending for students. However, the funding will increase in real terms through the year 2024. It will also return to the maximum levels of 2010. The UK government and the Department of Education are serious about resolving all issues and continue their support for teachers.