Union warning over zero rise for teachers

TEACHERS may not get a pay rise this year - despite Government-accepted recommendations they should receive at least one per cent, according to a local union leader.

Nigel Yeo, secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers (NUT), says it will be up to schools to decide whether to pay their staff the extra (and up to two per cent for top-performing teachers).

Schools will get no extra money to fund the increase.

Mr Yeo said: “The Government’s decision to freeze school funding means even a one per cent pay increase this year will lead to cuts elsewhere in schools. Its decision to allow schools to decide whether teachers get any increase means many teachers may not even get one per cent.

“The Government has to reconsider its policy of cutting funding to schools. Schools need more funding and teachers’ pay needs to rise otherwise we simply won’t have enough teachers to cope with growing pupil numbers.”