Government backs inflation rate pay deals for teachers

Education and Skills Secretary Charles Clarke and School Standards Minister David Miliband today gave evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body in which they set out plans for financial stability for schools.

Giving evidence today, Charles Clarke said that key to the stability of schools was an inflation rate pay deal for two-and-a-half years. The government had ended the times when teachers were underpaid and undervalued, he said. Salaries have risen substantially - since 1997 teachers' pay has increased in real terms by 13%, he claimed. However, Mr Clarke said that the overall pay bill had to be affordable.

The government also called for: settlement at the level of inflation, to ensure pay increases are affordable for schools; early announcement of the pay deal in November 2003, instead of January 2004, to give headteachers more time to plan their budgets; and the rewarding of excellent teaching in a way that is linked to affordability.

Mr Clarke said: "Teachers are central to raising standards but were undervalued for far too long. We are proud of the investment we have made in teaching and teachers.

"We are now seeing the benefits of this investment. There are almost 25,000 more teachers in schools than in 1997. We have more teachers than at any time since the early 1980s.

"We are getting more and better teachers into classrooms. A record 24,500 graduates have accepted teacher training places for this autumn. That's over 3,000 more than this time last year whilst in 1996 fewer than 18,000 graduates accepted places on teacher training courses."

"I repeat last year's call for a multi-year award. It is vital we do everything in our power to give head teachers the tools to plan ahead."

Today's oral evidence by The Secretary of State, Charles Clarke and the Minister for School Standards, David Miliband, follows written evidence presented to the STRB in July 2003.

When the Secretary of State receives the STRB's report he will consult key stakeholders on its recommendations, and his response to it, before any changes are incorporated into legislation.

The government has undertaken to implement the recommendations of all pay review bodies unless there are "clear and compelling reasons to the contrary".

(gmcg)