Teacher strikes in England end as all four unions accept pay deal

Teacher strikes have ended in England, after all four unions in a dispute with the government accepted a 6.5% pay rise.

Members of the NEU, the UK’s largest teaching union, voted overwhelmingly to accept the pay offer.

The NASUWT and NAHT unions also accepted the deal on Monday, with ASCL doing the same earlier in July.

The education secretary said the offer being accepted was “good news” for teachers, parents and pupils.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the deal meant the average teacher’s salary would increase by £2,500.

“It’s not all that we wanted, and we will continue to campaign for better school funding and for a restoration of teacher pay – but for a one-year pay award, it is a significant achievement,” she told the BBC.

Both sides in the dispute said the pay offer was “properly funded” and would not come from existing school budgets.

NEU teachers in England have been on strike on eight days since February – seven national and one regional – forcing many schools to close.

The union had been re-balloting members on holding further strikes next term.

The outcome of that ballot, also announced on Monday, saw 95% of members vote for further strike action, with a turnout of 53%.

The NAHT, NASUWT, and ASCL had also been balloting members on strikes – but all have now said they will not hold national action now that the pay offer has been accepted.

Most state school teachers in England had a 5% pay rise for the year 2022-23.

The unions had been calling for above-inflation pay rises for teachers, funded by extra money from government to protect school budgets.

The 6.5% rise for 2023-24 was recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body after an earlier government offer was rejected.

Ministers announced the latest offer on 13 July and, in a joint statement with union leaders, agreed to “wider reforms” to reduce staff workload.

Ms Keegan said the end of the dispute would allow more time to “focus on what matters most – giving our children a world-class education”.

“None of that is possible without the hard work of teachers,” she added.

The NEU’s support staff members in England also accepted the pay deal. They did not reach the required turnout for strike action earlier in the year.

By Alice Evans

Some parents had to take the day off when schools closed on strike days, with others juggling childcare with working from home.

Jane James, who runs an educational drama and singing business, felt “really lucky” to be self-employed with more flexible working hours than other parents.

Her daughter, who was working towards her GCSEs, found it “very productive to be at home” on the two days her school was closed, because her teachers gave her enough support to be able to study on her own.

Jane, from Leyland, Lancs, was “massively supportive” of better pay for teachers but also “really delighted that there’s now been a solution found”.

“I’m not sure that striking is always the right way – but if you’re not getting heard, something has to happen,” she said.

“I just hope that ultimately, we avoid [further action] at all costs.”