Government offers 5.5% salary increase for school teachers
The Department for Education has announced that teachers and leaders will receive a 5.5% pay rise from September 2024. It accepted recommendations made by the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The pay applies to all maintained schools, with academies continuing to have freedom over their pay and conditions (although most follow the recommendations of the STRB). It does not, however, apply to colleges.
Once implemented, teachers’ starting salaries outside London will reach £31,650 per annum. The pay point for the upper pay range 1 will increase to £45,646 and the pay range for leadership will be between £49,781 and £138,265 outside of London.
The country’s largest teaching union, the National Education Union has recommended that its members accept the offer. It will hold a snap poll during September for members to vote on the issue.
SEND system close to becoming financially unsustainable
The results of the latest annual report and accounts for the Department of Education have raised alarms over the financial sustainability of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. The department's latest risk register highlights that the system is critical and "likely" to become financially unsustainable, as cash strapped councils struggle to provide the funds necessary to deliver it.
Trainee teachers failing to achieve QTS
Recent figures from the Department for Education show that the proportion of trainee teachers who did not achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2022/23 stands at 8%, up from 7% the previous year and double the rate in 2019/20. Despite this, the percentage of those who gained QTS and went on to teach in state schools rose to 76%.
The data also reveals a significant drop in the number of trainee teachers, with nearly 8,000 fewer in 2022/23 compared to the previous year.
The school leaders union NAHT is calling for immediate measures to reduce stress and workload, such as abolishing performance-related pay progression and easing bureaucratic burdens on schools to attract and retain teaching staff.
Surge in teacher misconduct referrals
The Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) has reported a significant increase in teacher misconduct referrals, largely driven by a spike in complaints from parents. In the 2023-24 period, the TRA received nearly 1,700 reports, an increase of over 60% from the previous year.
The TRA's latest accounts reveal that despite efforts to manage the increased caseload, including hiring more staff and holding virtual hearings, the agency is still struggling to meet its 52-week target for concluding cases. On average, cases are taking almost two years to resolve.
Teachers with long Covid plan to sue the government
Teachers suffering from long Covid are preparing a group legal challenge against the UK government, claiming that inadequate pandemic policies led to them being infected at work. The group, Long Covid Educators for Justice, wants the Department for Education to compensate teachers who have lost their health, income, and employment due to the long term effects of Covid.
School leaders want the government to save the National Tutoring Programme
Headteachers across England are calling on the Labour government to secure funding for the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), which is set to end this week. Launched in November 2020 to help students catch up after the pandemic, the NTP has provided 5.3 million tutoring courses, significantly benefitting disadvantaged children.
The NTP has been particularly effective for children with special educational needs and those from low-income backgrounds.
Education leaders argue that the NTP needs to continue to close the attainment gap and have urged the government to embed tutoring into the school system to ensure all children have equal opportunities to succeed.
Post-pandemic attainment gap
The educational attainment gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their wealthier peers has widened across England, with the exception of London, according to a new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The study reveals that disadvantaged pupils are now more than 19 months behind their peers by the time they sit their GCSEs. The gap has increased at every stage of schooling, with persistently disadvantaged pupils – those eligible for free school meals for at least 80% of their school time – falling two years behind by the age of 16.
The report also notes that while the attainment gap among older pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has narrowed, it has grown to record levels among reception-age pupils needing support. The EPI calls for urgent, evidence-based policies and higher funding to address these inequalities.
Government launches curriculum and assessment review
The UK government has initiated a wide-ranging curriculum and assessment review to enhance educational standards and better prepare young people for life and work. The review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, will cover Key Stages 1 to 5 and focus on overcoming barriers to attainment, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The review will gather evidence from experts, parents, teachers, and leaders, and is expected to make recommendations next year.
New body to address UK skills shortages
The Prime Minister and Education Secretary have announced the formation of Skills England, a new body aimed at addressing the UK's skills shortages and boosting economic growth.
Skills England will aim to unite central and local government, businesses, training providers, and unions to create a cohesive national strategy for skills development.
The organisation will focus on key sectors such as construction and healthcare, and aims to reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas workers. It will also oversee the allocation of the growth and skills levy, providing businesses with more flexibility in training investments. This initiative is considered to be crucial as skills shortages have doubled between 2017 and 2022, and now account for 36% of job vacancies.
The establishment of Skills England will occur in phases over the next nine to 12 months, with the Skills England Bill transferring functions from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to the new body.
Workplace sickness costs UK businesses £30 billion
A recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals that the annual hidden cost of employee sickness in the UK has surged by £30 billion since 2018. The majority of this increase, £25 billion, stems from reduced productivity due to employees working while ill, with only £5 billion attributed to an increase in sick days.
UK workers are among the least likely to take sick days compared to other OECD countries, often working through illness. On average, employees experienced a productivity loss equivalent to 44 days due to working while ill, an increase from 35 days in 2018. Additionally, they took 6.7 days off for sick leave, up from 3.7 days in 2018.
This trend is more prevalent among marginalised ethnic groups and those in lower-quality jobs. The report highlights the need for a healthier work environment to boost productivity and protect workers' well-being.
IPPR proposes a pro-business health plan, including tax incentives for companies improving workforce health, new regulations, and compulsory health reporting for businesses. This approach aims to create a healthier, more prosperous economy.
Read more – August 2024
For general enquiries
0808 291 3524
Or we can call you back at a time of your choice
Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year
