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Educate

July/August 2023

Pay Up – Save Our Schools demo, London, 2 May.

AS I write my last welcome page, I feel immensely proud. Because our union is stronger than ever.

We’ve recruited more than 50,000 new members since our pay dispute began and have just announced a formal re-ballot of support staff over funding.

And at the time of writing, we’ve just called further strike action for teachers on Wednesday 5 July and Friday 7 July.

The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) has reportedly recommended a pay award of 6.5 per cent next year, according to press leaks, yet the Government still sits on this proposal despite its significance to our dispute.

It would be unheard of for a Government to ignore the STRB’s recommendation. How disrespectful to all those head teachers worrying about balancing their budgets next year to not say how much the pay rise will be and how it will be funded.

NEU president

Louise Atkinson

NEU joint general secretaries

Mary Bousted & Kevin Courtney

Editor Max Watson

Journalists

Sally Gillen, Emily Jenkins & Sarah Thompson

Newsdesk t: 020 7380 4760 e: educate@neu.org.uk

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It’s imperative the Government commits to fully funding any pay award – its failure to do so was a central reason our members voted to reject the last offer of 4.5 per cent.

It’s also vital that teachers in England vote in our re-ballot. A resounding Yes vote would send a loud message to the Government that we’re not giving up and are in this for as long as it takes to get what our members deserve.

Our sister education unions are all re-balloting their members too. We are much stronger together and stand united in the pay and funding dispute.

When our formal ballot of support staff members is launched, it’s crucial that they vote Yes because we must get over the prohibitive 50 per cent threshold to take action.

As this issue is my last as joint general secretary, it was a pleasure to reflect on sharing the leadership of this brilliant union with my great friend Kevin Courtney (see interview on page 26).

Also in this issue is a thought-provoking piece on eating disorders among children on page 25.

It’s got all the regulars – from puzzles to commentary, a cartoon and a bigger picture.

I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to Educate dropping onto my doormat in my retirement.

Mary Bousted

National Education Union Joint general secretary

Ernest Jones, a leading Chartist, was released from prison after serving two years for seditious speeches. The Chartists were a working-class movement for political reform, calling for universal male suffrage and payment of MPs, among other things. By 1918 all men were finally granted the vote and the Chartists had won all of their demands except for annual elections.

Hannah Greenaway, a primary teacher from Brent, said: “Everything’s getting cut. We’re running out of materials. Special education needs support has been cut. It’s not just about teachers’ pay, it’s about the whole education system. It’s just not fair. Kids are not getting what they deserve.”

The latest offer is “appalling”, she said, “because it’s got to be fully funded. It’s taking money away from the rest of the school if we have a pay rise. And it’s got to be a lot more than the Government is offering.”

Being on the demo was “brilliant”, she added. “I’m so impressed it’s this busy again.”

Cat Worthington teaches in a secondary school in south London. Cat said: “I’m in my third year of teaching and the amount of amazing teachers we lost in my first couple of years because we cannot retain them is just crazy. The Government isn’t giving us the money to keep those good teachers.

“The other thing for me is the cost of living going up. I’m one of the lowest paid out of all of my friends. I just think it’s unfair that we’re losing great teachers because they won’t give us a cost-of-living pay rise.”

The size of the demo is “amazing”, she said. “I feel it’s really important to explain to my students that you should stand up for what you believe in. I preach that in my lessons, and it would be hypocritical for me not to stand up for what I believe in.”

Ella Maron from Hounslow said: “I’m here to fight for my students’ future because our schools are so poor. We don’t have enough funds. We have been struggling to employ teachers recently; there was just no interest.”

The latest offer is an “insult”, she added. “There’s no offer really. That’s why we’re here – it’s got to be fully funded. It’s great to be here with people who think the same, and to fight for the future of education.”

Holly Phipps from Hampshire explained why she was on the demo: “I recently made a career change to become a teacher.

I’m in my second year. It’s without a doubt the best decision I’ve ever made. But the way they’re paying teachers, it’s not a career I’m going to be able to stick with for the rest of my life. It’s just not economically feasible.”

The latest offer, Holly agreed, is “insulting”. “I think the Government has completely missed the point about why we’re striking and I think it’s trying to turn teachers against schools.

“The Government needs to stop messing around and actually pay us what we deserve, so we can get back in classrooms and do what we love most. I’d rather be in the classroom with my children, but I know that their parents are behind me.”

Leanne Philpott from Central Bedfordshire said: “I’m on strike because of the effect of budget cuts on classroom resources. I’m actually leaving education at the end of this academic year because I just don’t feel that I’m able to continue. I feel like I’m failing every day. So I’m here not because I’ll benefit from any future pay rise, but because it’s needed for our classrooms. It’s needed for our children.

“We already don’t have enough in the budget. There’s no point in an unfunded pay rise that’s actually going to take away from our children and risk losing our support staff.

“The atmosphere here is great – being with like-minded people really affirms your decision that you’re doing the right thing.”

Ella Lister from East Essex said: “What the Government’s doing is appalling. We haven’t got the money to actually resource all our pupils right now; we haven’t got enough teachers. I trained with about 20 students, and only three of them are still teachers. They’ve all left – they can’t afford to be teachers anymore.

“We worked through all of the Covid lockdowns and this is our reward. The school hasn’t got any more money. The Government’s latest offer is ridiculous.

“This is my fifth day on strike so I’ve lost a whole week’s wages now. So it’s hard for me, but I will keep doing it. I’ll keep on fighting.”