Teachers in England gearing up for potential strike action
Teachers across England may soon take strike action after the National Education Union (NEU) rejected a government proposal of a 2.8% pay rise for the 2025–26 academic year.
In an indicative ballot, 93.7% of NEU members voted against the offer. More than 83% said they would support strike action. The ballot had a 47.2% turnout. Many educators say the offer fails to address real-terms pay cuts and increased job demands.
The proposed 2.8% rise is unfunded, meaning schools would need to cover the cost themselves. This adds pressure to already stretched budgets. Teachers argue this proposal will worsen a long-standing funding crisis. The government had previously funded a 5.5% raise in September 2024, but this latest offer leaves schools to manage alone.
Union Criticism and Call for Action
Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, called the offer “short-sighted.” He warned that the deal could worsen teacher shortages and damage education quality. According to Kebede, “Teachers are being backed into a corner.” He stressed that this issue goes beyond pay—it’s about valuing education and ensuring schools can function properly.
The NEU wants a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise. They also aim to restore teacher salaries to 2010 levels when adjusted for inflation. For many experienced teachers, this would mean a raise of about £12,000. Though ambitious, the union says it’s needed to keep teaching competitive with other graduate jobs.
Impact on School Budgets and Resources
School funding is a major concern. The NEU claims that 76% of primary schools and 94% of secondary schools won’t be able to balance their budgets under the current proposal.
This could lead to staff cuts, fewer resources, and larger class sizes. Many schools are already struggling with outdated materials and poor infrastructure. Support for students with special needs is also under threat.
Teachers are also working longer hours than most professionals. The average teacher in England works 49.2 hours per week. Many say the stress and low pay are pushing good teachers out of the profession.
Past Strikes and Ongoing Tensions
The NEU has organized strikes before. In 2023, teachers held eight days of strikes, which led to school closures and major disruptions. That action ended when a 6.5% pay deal was accepted. However, tensions quickly returned in 2024 when the new Labour government failed to meet expectations on education funding.
Sixth form college teachers went on strike in late 2024 and early 2025 over unfair pay gaps. These strikes involved 32 non-academized colleges. Teachers at these institutions had been left out of the 5.5% pay rise that others received, adding to the frustration.
Government Response and Next Steps
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged the union to avoid strikes. She warned that more disruptions would harm students still recovering from COVID-related learning losses. Phillipson noted that teachers have seen a 17% pay increase over three years. The government believes the 2.8% offer is fair, given economic challenges.
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However, the NEU rejects this view. “It’s disingenuous to frame this as teachers not caring about children,” said Kebede. He emphasized that teachers are demanding the resources needed to do their jobs well.
What Comes Next?
The NEU will soon hold a formal postal ballot to approve strike action. For the strike to move forward, at least 50% of members must vote, and 40% must support the strike. If successful, action could begin as early as this summer.
Other teaching unions are watching closely. While they have not yet announced their plans, their decisions may depend on the final report from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB).
For many teachers, this is about more than money. As one Manchester teacher put it, “We don’t want to strike, but if this is what it takes to be heard, we’ll do it.”
