Union claims victory as ministers agree to fully fund pay rise for teachers in England

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Published: 2026-09-16T15:04:43.435Z • Permanent link

Ministers in the UK government have agreed to fully fund the pay rise for teachers in England, a move welcomed by the National Education Union (NEU). This development comes after months of intense pressure from the union, which has been campaigning tirelessly for a significant increase in teacher salaries. The new funding will ensure that teachers do not have to partly fund the pay rise from their own school budgets, a move that has been widely criticized as unfair and unsustainable.

The NEU has been at the forefront of this campaign, with its General Secretary, Kevin Courtney, playing a key role in negotiations with the government. Courtney has been vocal about the need for a pay rise that reflects the true value of teaching, and has argued that the current funding model is unsustainable and unfair to teachers. The government, led by Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, has finally relented, agreeing to fully fund the pay rise as part of a broader package of measures aimed at improving teacher morale and recruitment.

The agreement comes just days after the NEU launched a major campaign to raise awareness about the issue, with thousands of teachers and parents taking part in protests and rallies across the country. The campaign, which included a series of high-profile events and social media campaigns, helped to put pressure on the government to act, and has been hailed as a major success by the union.

The news has sent shockwaves through the education sector, with many schools and education institutions already feeling the strain of budget cuts and austerity measures. The NEU has warned that the failure to fund the pay rise could lead to further teacher shortages and burnout, with potentially devastating consequences for students and the broader education system. The government's decision to fully fund the pay rise is seen as a major victory for the union, and a significant boost to teacher morale and recruitment.

The impact of the pay rise will be felt across the education sector, with teachers in schools and academies across England set to benefit from the increased funding. The NEU has warned that the pay rise will help to improve teacher morale and recruitment, but also acknowledged that more needs to be done to address the broader issues facing the education sector. The government's decision to fully fund the pay rise is seen as a major step in the right direction, but the union is calling for further action to address the root causes of teacher burnout and recruitment challenges.

The decision to fully fund the pay rise for teachers in England is part of a broader trend in the education sector, where governments and institutions are starting to recognize the importance of investing in teacher pay and benefits. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the critical role that teachers play in delivering high-quality education, and the need to recognize their value and reward them accordingly. The NEU's campaign has been supported by many other education unions and organizations, including the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Education Research Centre (NERC).