Responding to the Chancellor's announcement this afternoon that teachers and school leaders will receive a 5.5% pay increase for 2024/25, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 

“Leaders and teachers will welcome today’s above-inflation pay offer - it is another clear sign that the new government is serious about resetting the relationship with the profession.

"While pay remains below 2010 levels in real-terms, a 5.5% uplift is a significant step on the journey towards pay restoration, which we have long called for. We are currently in the midst of the worst recruitment and retention crisis in living memory – in part because under the last government the pay of leaders and teachers was cut by 20% in real terms. Teaching needs to once again be a sought-after, competitive career and pay is an important part of that picture.

“We are particularly pleased the chancellor has pledged additional funding for this deserved pay rise, which is crucial at a time when many school budgets are stretched. It is also positive to see that the government has considered the impact of support staff pay awards when allocating additional funding.

"As the government has acknowledged, schools will feel the impact of this uplift differently depending on their unique circumstances and it will be important that those already under the most significant financial pressures, such as special educational needs schools, small schools and alternative provision, get extra support where necessary.

Commenting on the announcement of an end to mandatory performance related pay, Mr Whiteman added: “NAHT has long called for the end of performance related pay – it has been proven to be ineffective in education and is a bureaucratic burden on schools, so we are pleased that the obligation to use it will be removed from this September. Given the timing, schools may need to think carefully about how they implement this change, but we will be encouraging them to do so as soon as possible.”