Industry News
Teachers strike moves closer
Posted on 25th January 2008
The possibility of a teachers strike moved closer today, but independent schools will not be affected by any action.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has called a ballot of members about a one-day strike on April 24th as part of its protests about the government's latest pay offer for classroom staff in state schools.
A new three-year pay settlement proposes to give teachers a 2.45 per cent salary increase in September 2008 followed by rises of 2.3 per cent in 2009 and 2010.
Steve Sinnott, the NUT's general secretary is unhappy the offer is below the Retail Prices Index inflation rate of four per cent and has warned any drop in the standard of living of teachers would harm efforts to recruit and retain the best graduates.
Private schools often have their own pay scales which offer rewards greater than those available in the state sector.
A recent study for the Nuffield Foundation found independent schools employ better qualified teachers and are more likely to have specialists in shortage subjects than state schools - facts it attributed to the "pay premium" in the private sector.