DFE subject to a fireworks reaction?

DFE subject to a fireworks reaction?

There has been a swift reaction from the Teacher Unions and Association representing School Leaders on the latest pay rise recommendation from the DFE. Critisism has been levelled at the low 6.5% over three years recommended award and that cash-strapped schools will need to find 'economies in the their budget' to pay for it.

As the National Education Union (NEU) spokeman and general secretary, Daniel Kebede, says '“The last Labour government made education its top priority – ‘education, education, education’. This Labour government, however, is failing to deliver on its promises. “Instead of 6,500 more teachers, we have botched Ofsted reforms, declining school funding, and now a pay recommendation that will do nothing to address the continued crisis in retention.”The DfE’s evidence states the department expects “most schools” will need to implement plans to get “better value from existing spend” to afford the pay awards". (Source: The Independent Online)

The General Secretary, Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the suggested rise “would be a real-terms pay cut for teachers and leaders if inflation and average earnings across the wider economy rise as predicted. “Great schools rely on great teachers and leaders. All the government’s ambitions – from improving literacy, to tackling child poverty, to SEND inclusion – none of them can be realised without skilled experienced professionals showing up for pupils every day.” (Source: Schools Week)

I follow a FaceBook page called, 'Life After Teaching'  and it is quite clear that some teachers and school leaders experience an increasingly toxic work environment, through no fault of their own. Why?

The message from that group is that what used to be pressure on SATS results, scrutinised by Ofsted Inspectors, now also includes even more future savings on the bottom line of a school's budget spreadsheet over the next three years. Who is at risk? Well the reduction of Teaching Assistants in class has become fair game (in my experience as a primary school governor).There is now also an increasing trend of experienced teachers being viewed as too expensive. Instances of using means, foul rather than fair, to remove experienced staff, seems to be increasing. Try reading the posts on 'Life after Teaching'. It is frightening. This latest announcement has just made that situation a lot worse. Retention of teachers? The DfE has just pulled the 'bilge plug' of a rapidly sinking ship called, 'Education'.