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The National Education Union (NEU), England's largest teaching union, is voting on whether to accept or reject the government's pay offer of 2.8% for the 2025-26 academic year.If it is turned down, the union will debate at its conference in April whether to vote for industrial action, which could include strikes.A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson called it "an extraordinary decision" by the union.
Are more strikes planned?
No more full strikes are planned at this stage, although the threat of future action has not been ruled out.
The School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), an independent group for teacher's pay, will recommend a formal pay offer later this year. The BBC understands that head teacher unions are likely to wait for this before making any decisions of their own.The NEU's ballot will open on 1 March and run until mid-April.Teachers received a 5.5% pay rise last September in England, funded by an additional £1.2bn from the government, for the 2024-25 year.
Government departments have since recommended a pay rise of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers, including teachers, for next yearIn July 2023, the NEU, the largest teaching union, as well as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and NASUWT accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise for 2023-24.But unions are continuing to campaign on teacher pay for what they call pay restoration, to compensate for years of below-inflation increases. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says there has been a "long period of real-terms reductions in teacher salaries dating back to 2010".
What do teachers want?
England
In March 2024, teaching unions jointly called for a "fully funded, inflation-plus" pay rise, external for 2024-25.
They also called for "significant improvements" on workload, saying that was also needed to address problems recruiting and retaining teachers.
In July 2024, chancellor Rachel Reeves told Parliament she had accepted "in full" the recommendations of the School Teachers Review Body, which called for increases to teachers' pay of 5.5% at all grades.
Each year, the independent STRB hears submissions from each side and makes recommendations on teacher pay to the government, who ultimately decide on how much to award.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked, external the STRB for their recommendations on 2025-26 teacher pay "at the earliest point" and warned of the "challenging financial position this government has inherited".Four education unions - the Association of School and College Leaders (Ascl), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT and NEU - responded to Phillipson in December last year, saying they are concerned about the "inadequate and underfunded pay recommendation" of 2.8% for the 2025-26 academic year.
Wales
The Welsh Government made a pay offer for 2024-25 in line with England's 5.5% teacher pay rise, which was higher than the 4.3% recommended by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB).
Long-running action ended in November 2023 after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding.
Scotland
In September 2024, Scottish teaching unions unanimously accepted a pay offer of 4.27%.The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) has since submitted a claim for a pay rise of 6.5%, external to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which represents schools, councils and the Scottish government.
Northern Ireland
In December, members of three of the main teaching unions in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for strike action over pay.The NASUWT, INTO and UTU unions balloted their members on industrial action in November.They said they were holding the vote due to the lack of a "satisfactory pay offer" for 2024-25.The teaching unions in Northern Ireland accepted a previous pay deal in March 2024, but that was a backdated one covering the years from 2021 to 2024.The pay offer saw starting salaries rise to £30,000 and represented a cumulative total rise of 10.4%, plus a £1,000 increase to other teachers and leadership pay scales.
Will my child's school close if strikes happen?
Although none are currently planned, schools in England should open where possible in the event of a teachers' strike, the government says., external
Teachers do not have to declare in advance if they intend to strike, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about school closures.
Head teachers take a decision on whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning of industrial action, once staff numbers are known.
The new Labour government repealed the previous government's minimum service level law, which unions had called "undemocratic".
Can parents take time off, and what else do you need to know?
In England, you can ask for leave to care for "family and dependants", including emergency childcare.
Your employer must not refuse a reasonable request, but you may not be paid. Alternatively you may be able to take holiday or unpaid parental leave.
Schools are asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers' children during strikes. They are also asked to try to prevent, or reduce, any disruption to exams and other formal assessments.
The NEU issued guidance to support arrangements for head teachers to "provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed" on strike days so students who had exams coming up could attend school.
Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals, external if they close.
How much are teachers paid?
Classroom teachers were paid an average of £43,100 in the 2023-24 school year in England and 47,340 in Wales.The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £75,300, and £60,500 for other senior leaders.
Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.Employers also contribute 28.6% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 23.7% - 14.38% from employers and 9.4% made centrally from NHS England.
