Press releases

The Government and the education trade unions, Association of School and College Leaders, National Association of Head Teachers, NASUWT and National Education Union, have agreed to move into a period of intensive talks.

A properly funded early years sector is crucial to any attempts to improve the educational outcomes of children across the country.

The findings released show that providing schools with direct funding is a more effective means of ensuring that the most disadvantaged students get the support they need.

An attempt by education unions involved in the industrial action dispute over pay and funding to break the current deadlock and move forward with talks with the government has been ignored.

We endorse the recommendations by Barnardo’s for universal free school meals in primary schools.

Whilst we welcome ambitions to transform the landscape of SEND, we remain unconvinced that the measures proposed will improve the standard of provision that is currently on offer.

Teachers and education staff worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and education unions listened to the science and acted to protect the school community when the Government was doing neither.

We are absolutely ready to come to talks. What we cannot accept are pre-conditions which require us to pause strike action.

While no teacher wants to be on strike action we are grateful for the support of parents, and do not take it for granted.

We welcome the commitment to substantive and formal talks to resolve the dispute - which is fundamentally about pay and funding this year.

Today, teachers in schools and sixth form college in England and Wales and support staff in Wales schools, took strike action in pursuit of a fully-funded, above inflation pay rise.

The union is declaring seven days of strike action in February and March, though any individual school will only be affected by four of them.