Responding to the Welsh Government's announcement of a 5.5% pay rise for school leaders and teachers for 2024/25, Laura Doel, national secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said:

“We welcome the Welsh Government’s confirmation that it will honour its agreement to match the pay uplift announced for school leaders and teachers in England, which will mean an award of 5.5% in Wales.

“It is concerning that the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body recommended only 4.3% given the overwhelming evidence of a decade of real-terms pay erosion and the recruitment and retention crisis at a time when pressure and workload have in many cases grown. This again calls into question the influence the Welsh Government has over the review body process when it comes to affordability.

“It would have been hugely damaging and demoralising for our members to be seen as being somehow worth less than their counterparts in England.

“While we understand the award will be fully-funded, we will be examining the detail with a microscopic lens to ensure all costs are covered for all schools, not just average costs.

“This is absolutely crucial at a time when so many school leaders are already suffering sleepless nights worrying about how they can set balanced budgets, with some facing the completely unpalatable prospect of making valued staff redundant.

“Investment in both the staffing and resources needed for schools to provide the high-quality education all children deserve really shouldn’t be too much to ask.”

NAHT Cymru’s Welsh Executive will meet on Monday to discuss the pay offer.

Laura Doel is available for interview. Please email pressoffice@naht.org.uk to make arrangements.