Commenting on The Sunday Times report that the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) has recommended a 6.5% pay rise for the 2023/24 academic year, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“This simply shows how out of touch the government’s offer of 4.5% is. Education is in crisis and the government now needs to listen to the profession and let us help them solve the crisis.

“6.5% would be progress but we have deep recruitment and retention issues. The government needs to fully fund the award and resolve the pay dispute for the current financial year, as well as making big changes to ease workload and inspection pressures. It must now urgently reopen serious negotiations.”

NAHT this week opened its strike ballot after members rejected the government’s most recent offer on pay and working conditions.