Govt planning to screw over teachers again

[noblegiraffe]

The government have recommended to the independent pay review body (late, they missed the deadline) that teacher pay rises should be 'more sustainable' this year. They haven't suggested a figure but looking at budget this would be 1-2% (i.e. another below inflation pay-cut.)

In the meantime, their commitment to reduce teacher working hours by 5 hours per week has been a complete failure as teacher working hours have actually increased in the last year:

"The latest wave of the working lives of teachers and leaders survey shows full-time leaders’ average working week in 2023 was 58.2 hours – over 11 hours a day – up from 57.5 in 2022.
The survey polled more than 10,000 workers, and found full-time teachers’ average hours were 52.4 per week, up from 51.9 in 2022......Teachers and leaders’ job satisfaction has also plummeted. Only 46 per cent were satisfied “most of the time”, compared to 58 per cent last year.

At the same time, the number of teachers quitting is increasing, and recruitment is becoming an even bigger issue due to the lack of people starting a PGCE last September who should now be applying for jobs.

The government gearing up for another war with teachers is clearly something they see as a vote-winner in an election year.

However, many voters are parents and can see the impact of the state of education on their children's experience at school.

NEU and NASUWT are currently consulting members to see if they want another ballot for strike action.

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/keegan-calls-for-return-to-more-sustainable-teacher-pay-rises/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/heads-and-teachers-working-longer-despite-workload-push/

I'm not a teacher (am private sector), but I certainly expect a pay rise every year. So don't think it's that surprising they do really?

I would argue strongly that teaching is highly skilled.You try getting a low ability set to understand Shakespeare, actually enjoy it and be able to analyse the language and make inferences on a windy Friday afternoon.

All the time while making sure the kid at the front can't get hold of the scissors so they can self harm, the kid at the back has highly differentiated sheets because they have the reading age of a six year old while the kid by the window has appropriate stretch activities as their reading age is 17. Manage all the low level behaviour issues at the same time mind and deal with the drama from lunch.

We are giving the next generation an education that means they will have choices and options, they won't be stuck in a dead end job. And as another poster said, there is money available, the Tories just don't value public workers. We don't want the same pay as junior doctors and consultants but we do deserve more than we are getting.

Train drivers have been striking for two years and they are on an average of £60,000, where is their vitriolic response?

Where did I say that?

We've had pay cuts for years....why do you think there's such a turnover of staff at your DD's school?

I don’t think you have to be an Oxford bio chemistry graduate to earn a lot more than a teacher’s wage. Actually there is now a huge problem in secondary schools trying to recruit science teachers. Frankly anyone with a half decent degree in a science subject is going to have far better and more financially beneficial offers than slogging it out in a some crappy comprehensive school.

Ah, your kid is in primary. Wait till he hits secondary, that's where the recruitment problems are most dire. Then don't come whinging when they don't have a qualified subject teacher for GCSE or A-level.

You’re literally trying to police “who I can criticise” in your own words.

Train drivers have been striking for two years and they are on an average of £60,000, where is their vitriolic response?

A standard £63k straight after qualifying, for a 35 hour week, for drivers at my local train company. PLUS overtime. Plus they earn £37k while training. No qualifications needed. Not even GCSEs. Just a skills test.

I've suggested it to my offspring and their partners.

You’ve not had a pay cut, that’s just delusional fantasy. You may not have had a pay rise, but at no point has your base salary actually decreased. This is why huge number of people are absolutely sick of teachers.

Complain, strike, complain strike, spin and repeat.

Do you understand that if prices rise more than your salary rises then you've had an effective pay cut? You can buy fewer things?

Or maybe the problem isn't pay but the fact that so many schools are run as academies by awful MAT's that treat them like businesses rather than a public service. My 2 local secondaries are prime examples (run by Astrea). A lot of people earn much less than teachers, even in 'highly skilled' jobs that require a university degree.

Give it a go - you'd then see how highly skilled and multi talented a teacher needs to be.

@noblegiraffe started this thread about teachers, to raise awareness. It didn't take long for the bashers to arrive. It is actually from non teachers that the whinging has come.

There was no gun to my head to teach, a career I have loved for 23 years and given my all to. 60 hours a week as a HOD but no complaints. I am leaving this year and it breaks my heart but I can earn the same in a job that doesn't demand every ounce of me.

Ahhh an “effective paycut”, not the same as the actual paycut you claimed though, is it?

And actually, staggeringly few professions have had 11.5% in 2 years.

if you don’t like it, leave, no one is begging you to stay.

The 6 week holidays are great, you could have them too if you became a teacher

if you don’t like it, leave

Do you want your DS's teacher to leave? To be left in the lurch? Or is that just something you say to teachers you don't think teach your own child?

What job do you do @JackSleepskin?

They're bumping my thread and allowing a lot of points to be made in rebuttal to their stupid remarks so y'know, they're doing good work as far as I'm concerned.

Nah, I don’t think I could hack the endless complaining. I guess I’ll just do something else instead then rather then spend my adult life resenting my job and striking.

I’d 100% rather his teacher left than stayed in a job she clearly deeply resented. I wonder what sort of atmosphere teachers who clearly hate their jobs provide for their students?

Get rid of the MATs; the money creamed off the individual schools budgets under them to pay for the extra levels of overpaid management would pay for the teachers pay rises.

Generally teachers agree that being in the classroom with the kids is the best bit of the job. It's the rest of it that's the issue.

Hmmm come on now, I'm all for fair pay for teachers but pretending you've had a pay cut makes it look like you have a very weak argument, or you wouldn't have to phrase it so dishonestly.

I think most people understand, particularly given the last year, how inflation works.

You’re embarrassing yourself now.

You’ve had 11.5% in 2 years, 17% for new teachers.

At no point have you had an actual pay cut.

It just isn’t possible be a martyr and desperate for more cash at the same time. Pick a lane. Want more money, leave, find something more financially rewarding. Want to endlessly complain? Stay, keep going, it certainly looks like a hobby from where I’m standing.