National Union of Teachers - NUT Response to the Pre-Budget Report

The NUT today welcomed the commitments in the Pre-Budget Reports to school funding and education, however, the union also expressed concerns that the Government would cut funding in times of financial uncertainty. The NUT urged the Government to remain firm on their commitments to education.

Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, commented: "Even at a time of economic uncertainty the Government has to realise that teachers’ salaries have a direct impact on recruitment.

To date graduates are not being attracted into a profession that pays less than most other graduate jobs. A recent survey showed teachers are working ever longer hours; more work for decreasing pay....Schools cannot be subject to the vagaries of the market. What every parent wants is a good local school for every child."

Commenting on today’s announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;

"The Government has constantly stated its aim to create a world class education system for our children and young people, and I am pleased that the Chancellor repeated his commitment to maintain spending in schools.

"However, this is not something that can be done on the cheap. Now is not the time for the Government to draw back from existing commitments to improve the education of young people and children.

"Even at a time of economic uncertainty the Government has to realise that teachers’ salaries have a direct impact on recruitment. To date graduates are not being attracted into a profession that pays less than most other graduate jobs. A recent survey showed teachers are working ever longer hours; more work for decreasing pay.

"A continued investment in school buildings, with an extra £800 million being brought forward, will give much needed improvements to many schools. It is time that all our schools had facilities that matched up to the needs of a modern society.

"Putting into law the commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020 is also good news but we need to see a redoubling of efforts to deliver the investment needed to meet the 2010 target of halving child poverty, the foundation for this legislation.

"Schools cannot be subject to the vagaries of the market. What every parent wants is a good local school for every child.”