The NJC has proposed a pay offer for 2025/26, which includes:
Importantly, discussions surrounding the union’s pay claim are ongoing - the proposed pay offer is in its consultation stage with union members which will determine if the offer is accepted or if further negotiations are required.
In teaching news, the possibility of a teacher’s strike is gaining traction and could come into force as early as the autumn term.
Following the DfE’s previous suggestion of a 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025-26, there are concerns about how schools will be able to fund the increase (given the government’s previous suggestion that schools will need to find efficiencies to fund part of the increase themselves).
Unions including NASUWT and NEU are considering strike action if their pay offer is not met.
Follow our LinkedIn page to see the latest posts as the situation develops.
Under the Labour government, many Academy Trusts are now considering mergers following a phase of rapid and often incoherent growth across the sector. Consolidation is necessary, particularly for trusts with disconnected geographic footprints, or those struggling to make numbers add up financially. Mergers are proving to be a more stable option for those seeking further growth, especially for those that grew too quickly and struggled to scale capacity and support structures, and for trusts with retiring CEOs where no succession plan is in place.
Trusts are now working together to create a civic dividend - purposeful collaboration between schools and trusts to improve the education experience and provide purposeful place-based collaboration across other schools, trusts, diocesan groups, and with LAs.
This approach supports the work of the Government’s new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) boards. As the Secretary of State for Education said – ‘improvement must be relentless – but it must also be shared. This is about building dividends at civic and system level’.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Leadership & MAT Development Team to explore your growth options, particularly where due diligence has an important role in supporting the success of mergers.
81% of teachers believe there’s been a rise in violent or abusive pupil behaviour, with 2 in 5 teachers reporting physical abuse or violence from pupils in the last 12 months. With this increase in behavioural challenges a concern within the sector, the NASUWT union’s executive is hoping to work with the government to ensure those working with pupils receive “unequivocal support” to secure positive learner behaviour and improved school safety.
And, with the recent announcement that Netflix’s drama, Adolescence, is to be made freely available to schools, there’s heightened attention on the impact of smartphones and social media on impressionable young people - many schools are turning to mobile phone bans to prevent exposure to disinformation, bullying, and distractions from learning.
To combat these growing concerns, the government plans to introduce annual safeguarding checks and longer inspections. Insights for safeguarding are set to be proposed as part of the new Ofsted framework. On this front, comments from Ofsted have also been reported in the press to suggest that the proposed new approach to grading is “too complicated” and needs “greater clarity” - we’ll see how this one develops.
As expected, following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of the term ‘woman’ over the Easter break, education unions are calling for clearer guidance on how to interpret the law regarding children questioning their gender. The EHRC is currently producing guidance applicable to schools on this judgement.
Finally, new guidance for DBS ID checking processes came into effect from 22 April 2025, aiming to simplify the process whilst keeping the standards of safeguarding high.
Schools and trusts have until 1 November 2025 to transition to use the updated guidance. Read a full overview of the changes here.
Talk to our friendly DBS Team about the expert advice available through our dedicated helpline and pre-employment check support when you choose our service.
Whether you need financial support with an accounting audit, strategic guidance to support your people strategy, advice with processing DBS checks, or a review of capacity to expand your Trust, we can help.
Through a blend of operational, advisory and strategic support, our specialists work by your side to help combat the challenges of the sector so that you can secure the best possible outcomes for your staff and pupils.
Don’t forget to read the insights from our workforce and succession panel discussion here, and sign-up to our next Thought Leaders sessions – they're all FREE!