Young teachers call for reversal of school budget cuts and 5 per cent pay rise

More than 150 young teachers have today written to Damian Hinds, the education secretary, warning of the pressures they face after “years of wage restraint” and calling on him to reverse real terms budget cuts and introduce a “five per cent pay rise for school staff”.

The 157 teachers wrote to Hinds citing yesterday’s news from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that schools in England have seen an eight per cent real terms budget cut since 2010 and accusing the government of treating pupils and teachers with “contempt”.

Their letter also included a statement on the personal impact of recent wage settlements which have struggled to keep pace with inflation.

The 157 teachers, all members of the National Education Union, wrote: “After years of wage restraint, we’re feeling the pressure of declining wages and rising living costs. Teacher pay has been cut in real terms by thousands of pounds during our time in the profession.

“Many of us are forced to work more than one job to make ends meet, stay at home or save on rent or live hand to mouth, month to month.