Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the improved teacher pay offer for the 2022/23 academic year announced by the Welsh government.
“We welcome the improved pay offer for teachers and leaders, and the commitment to reduce systemic pressures which are driving unsustainable levels of workload. Both issues – pay and workload – are vital to addressing the teacher recruitment and retention crisis and enabling schools to put teachers in front of classes.
“This is the product of extensive negotiations between the Welsh government and trade unions which have been conducted in a constructive manner by all concerned. We will now discuss this offer with our senior elected members.
“We also welcome the commitment given to us by local authorities in Wales that they will ensure that Welsh government funding will be passed on to schools in full to ensure they are able to pay these awards. This is of critical importance given the huge financial pressure on schools.
“The negotiations in Wales have taken place within tight funding constraints and it is to the credit of the Welsh government that they have found a way forward. All eyes will now be on the government in Westminster to show a similar commitment to address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis in England.”