Story perspectives

Schools to Cover £460 m Teacher Pay Rise, NEU Mulls Strike

7/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Department for Education ordered schools to fund the first 1 % of a teacher pay rise, shifting costs onto strained budgets.
Schools must raise £460 million, equal to cuts for about 8,300 staff.
Union leaders warned the 6.5 % offer may not beat 2.8 % inflation, prompting the National Education Union to consider a strike ballot.
The government pledged £1.8 billion for schools, £485 million for colleges and capped academy-trust executives’ salaries at £174,000.

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Story summary

The Department for Education ordered schools to fund the first 1 % of a teacher pay rise, shifting costs onto strained budgets.
Schools must raise £460 million, equal to cuts for about 8,300 staff.
Union leaders warned the 6.5 % offer may not beat 2.8 % inflation, prompting the National Education Union to consider a strike ballot.
The government pledged £1.8 billion for schools, £485 million for colleges and capped academy-trust executives’ salaries at £174,000.