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/

The posts on here are right that there are other benefits that come with teaching that should absolutely be taken into account with the salary. It's not just a case of looking at the base number. However teacher numbers are definitely dropping so from a supply / demand perspective it would appear something does need to be done.
I said in my last post that in the private sector I expect to be given a pay rise every year which is true. However what's also true is that my pay rises and bonuses etc (which I appreciate teachers don't get) are based on performance. Perhaps the whole system needs a radical overhaul to make sure that if you do a fantastic job it is in some way recognised - yes the majority of teachers are great, but some really aren't

@echt throwing money at it clearly isn't helping if teachers are still leaving.

@JackSleepskin imagibe how amazing it would be if your DD’s science teacher was an Oxford Biochemistry graduate? Imagine how much it would advance our country if teaching was filled with top graduates?

Do you think the quality of our education system matters? Why do you think people pay for private education?

I only ask because, as a parent, I want the absolute best for my DS. I went to private school and a top university. I’ve worked in state education and is it a MESS. It’s been decimated by pay cuts.

The academy system is destroying education. MATs do not give a fuck about kids. I don’t want DS rotting away in the system. I want him to get the best education, one that will open doors for him, just like mine did.

I want all our children and young people to have amazing opportunities, at schools brimming over with the best resources and the most incredible teachers. Not 36 to a class, with a cover supervisor and 4 to a book.

But they aren't throwing money at it. AS if. School budgets are in real trouble.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/oct/18/risk-of-education-in-england-being-reduced-to-bare-bones-headteachers-say#:~:text=The%20Department%20for%20Education%20(DfE,they%20were%20told%20in%20July.

However what's also true is that my pay rises and bonuses etc (which I appreciate teachers don't get) are based on performance.

You'll be disappointed to hear that the govt has just binned performance related pay for teachers because it's bollocks and used to keep down wages rather than reward good performance.

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/dfe-scrap-performance-related-pay-teachers

You what? You think the government has been throwing money at education? Are you sure?

But you did used to move up the pay scale if you do a good job! That’s how it worked. You got stuck on a pay scale if you weren’t reaching targets.

We can't afford to do any Easter craft this year. Something I've done for 20+ years. We have no money for pritt sticks or card. We can't afford paint, felt tip pens or white board pens.

Hahahaha! You don’t like teachers do you? You also don’t believe that educating your child is important, that anyone can teach, that we’re overpaid.
I think we get your point.

@noblegiraffe that's pay related progression though which is different. And it's not about me being "disappointed", I appreciate some people on here have a real thing about teachers and are quite frankly rude to them, I'm not being that at all. I was just saying, could there be a different way.

I don’t think anyone should get a below inflation payrise. But I do agree with @JackSleepskin that at least you’ve had something. I’m in the charity sector and haven’t had a pay rise in 3 years (and have never had an inflation proof pay rise). Maybe that is crap, but my job isn’t less worthwhile because I work with refugees, people with addiction, and the homeless rather than children. They deserve people looking out for them too.

It’s an exceptionally highly skilled job though unfortunately for various reasons, including pay, it’s now attracting a lower calibre of trainees. You are part of the problem.

Oh, teachers are leaving alright.

In my department alone, there has already been 3 members of staff who have left since this September, and 2 of them only joined this year. I'm also in a subject shortage area.

As you can imagine, learners and parents are unhappy because of the lack of consistency and continuity, with different teachers covering the classes because we are unable to find a replacement. Learners have lost focus and are struggling to pass their exams.

Is this what parents like you want?

Do some people not remember being at school? How difficult it must have been for teachers to teach? OK someone teachers were awful but the vast majority in my school were excellent and the way they had to work to get the class engaged and build rapport whilst teaching us I think is admirable. Of course teachers should be paid more. I couldn't do it.

And the Employer Contribution to teachers pensions is 28.68% from April, factor in that and the holidays and teachers pay isn't bad. What is bad is the workload and expectations and stress, that needs resolving. Any funding needs to go towards solving SEN etc crises in schools, not more teacher pay.

I would have thought the main reason there's a shortage of teachers is because of the behaviour of many pupils. I have said this before on here but last year in a town near me, secondary school teachers went on strike because of the violence and abuse from pupils. It was on my local news channel.

Giving teachers huge pay rises is not going to solve that problem.

We're not allowed to strike over underfunding, SEN, workload etc. So pay it is.

And violence and abuse from teenagers.

Yes they do need more pay. It's in the OP's OP so I'm not spelling it out again.

I agree that there are other hidden (huge) benefits such as the TPS which makes comparing hourly rates completely unfair. The TPS employer contribution is increasing by 21% in April (from 23.68% to 28.68%) - that is a massive increase in cost to employers and a massive benefit to teachers which is often ignored. People on the minimum wage quoted earlier usually have a tiny 3% auto enrolment employer pension contribution in comparison.
I don’t think pay is the issue in teacher recruitment/retention but the day to day job sound difficult.

2 & 3 aren't going to win you any support are they.

"Your kids are awful and your parenting is shit - support our pay rise"

Yeah alright then.

They are leaving. Look at the graph. People are also not joining.

I'd actually like my children and neices to have teachers. In fact as a society i think functioning schools are essential.

The TPS is a bit of a funny scheme. Yes the pension a teacher gets at the end of a career is good. But its an unfunded scheme. Its not a pension contribution to cover that actual teachers pension. Theres no money held in a fund. Its used to help pay out existing teacher pensions.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66734164

National strikes have to be issues affecting all teachers on the strike so we can’t strike nationally about behaviour as that doesn’t affect all teachers. I can’t strike about behaviour at a different school.