Commenting on the announcement from the Welsh Government of an above-inflation 5.5% pay award for teachers, exceeding the 4.3% recommended by the IWPRB, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary for NASUWT, said:

“NASUWT welcomes the confirmation form the Welsh Government that it will exceed the recommendation of the pay review body and ensure teachers in Wales receive at least an equivalent pay award as their counterparts in England.

“It is disappointing that the Welsh Government has left teachers in limbo for so long before making today’s announcement.

“NASUWT hopes that today’s announcement will be a first step in restoring the competitiveness of teachers' pay after more than a decade of real terms pay erosion. We urge the Government to work with us to secure the world class pay and conditions that teachers deserve.”

Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official for Wales, said:

“Teachers in Wales will be relieved to hear that they will receive a pay uplift of 5.5% this year after weeks of delay.

“The Welsh Government has known about the teachers’ pay award in England since the end of July and has been in possession of the IWPRB report for even longer. Teachers in Wales will wonder why there has been this long delay, particularly as they have been offered the same pay uplift as teachers in England.

“It is now vital that the Welsh Government publish in full the IWPRB report and commit to avoiding further delays to the pay review body process.

“NASUWT looks forward to engaging with the Welsh Government in the now necessarily shortened consultation period to bring about change to the Welsh education service to make teaching in Wales more attractive for good quality graduates. That means taking forward the IWPRB non-pay recommendations and many aspects of the IWPRB strategic review of education in Wales.”