Teachers in Reading have ended strike action after a pay increase has been agreed between unions and the government – but concerns over funding linger.
Teaching staff in Reading have been conducting rolling strikes this year calling for pay increases after years of inflation and greater funding for schools.
A pay increase of 4.5 per cent was rejected by unions amid fears that it would increase pressure on already tightened school budgets.
But now, all four striking unions have accepted a 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers.
The National Education Union (NEU), NASUWT and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) accepted the pay deal with the Department of Education on Monday, July 31, with the deal being accepted by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) earlier that month.
READ MORE: Union warns of general strike in education as teachers march through Westminster
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked NEU members in Reading about the acceptance of the pay rise and whether the concerns raised during the strikes remain.
While teachers have welcomed the pay increase, there are lingering concerns over how the increase will be funded, financial pressure on schools and teaching pressures, particularly over Ofsted inspections.
Katie Gumbrell, Media Secretary for Reading NEU said: “We welcome an end to the current strike action and look forward to the extra funding promised to schools by government.
“However, there is uncertainty whether schools in Reading will have sufficient reserves to meet this pay deal, as well as their spiralling energy costs, without making cuts elsewhere. It remains to be seen whether the current pay deal will alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis in teaching.
“We look forward to hearing tangible progress on tackling teacher workload and the complete reform of the unacceptable Ofsted process.
“Parents and carers in Reading have been so supportive throughout this period of strike action and we want to keep working together for the good of Reading’s children.”
One word Ofsted judgements have come under fire following the death of Caversham Primary headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after receiving an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted rating.
READ MORE: Reading calls for Ofsted reform grow at meeting with education secretary
Alison McNamara, Branch Secretary for the Reading Branch of the NEU, warned that further strikes could take place if required.
She said: “Teachers in the NEU, through submissions to the pay review process, through taking strike action and through a reballot to continue strike action have forced a major government shift on pay and on schools funding.
“Members have voted to accept for now what is the highest pay offer for 30 years, whilst retaining the view that funding for schools and colleges remains inadequate and that continuing improvement will be needed to address systemic problems with recruitment and retention, including real-terms cuts in pay.
“The ballot of our members on the pay offer ran in parallel with a re-ballot on industrial action which successfully cleared the restrictive threshold for action and demonstrated an overwhelming 95 per cent majority in favour of further action if required.
“Whilst acceptance of the current offer means that action over the 2023-24 pay deal will now not go ahead in the Autumn term, many issues remain on workload and funding for schools and colleges.
“The NEU will be vigilant in defending members’ rights on issues like workload and jobs, ensuring the government lives up to recent commitments and is committed to campaigning for teacher pay and for a better funded education system.”
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