Responding to the leaked story in the Sunday Times today stating that the STRB report will recommend a 6.5 % increase for teacher pay, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the National Education Union, said
"Teachers and School Leaders overwhelmingly rejected Gillian Keegan's last offer - both because it was too low and because it wasn't fully funded.
'Since that rejection she has sought to hide behind the School Teachers’ Review Body saying that she is leaving it to them to make the decision on teacher pay.
'She now has the report and can no longer hide behind the STRB.
'According to the leak in the Sunday Times the STRB has recommended a 6.5% pay increase.
'This is significantly above the latest Government offer of 4.3% which was roundly rejected by NEU members.
'However, it does not make up for the poor awards the STRB has made almost every year since 2010 - leading to declining rates of pay and enormous problems with teacher recruitment and retention.
'Gillian Keegan must now break cover from Sanctuary Buildings.
'She must publish the STRB report. She must invite the teacher and leader unions into the DfE and be absolutely clear about whether, and when she intends, or not, to implement the STRB’s recommendations in full, or as we would argue to go beyond them.
'She must make it clear if she intends to fully fund it.
'She must also commit to meaningful discussions on this year's pay and on reducing excessive teacher workload and to reforming the accountability system for schools.
'Trust in the education secretary is at rock bottom.
'No one wants to be taking strike action but the NEU mandate for action continues into the rest of the summer term and we will call further action if the Secretary of State doesn't reach a settlement with us.
'Our re ballot for industrial action in the Autumn term alongside ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT is underway. We will continue to urge members to vote yes in the ballot.
'We will hold Gillian Keegan and the Government to account to ensure they invest in this generation of children, their schools and colleges and the people who work in them".