NAHT Northern Ireland has confirmed that it will accept the revised pay offer of 4% for teachers and school leaders for the 2025/26 academic year, following consultation with members.

The formal offer was received on 6 January 2026, and NAHT NI immediately launched a member consultation  to ensure the membership’s views were fully represented. In line with the consultation results, the NAHT Northern Ireland Executive has formally notified Management Side of its decision to accept the offer.

Joanne Whyte, NAHT NI president, said: “We welcome this cost-of-living pay uplift, which restores parity with colleagues in England. This outcome reflects the strength of our collective voice and the importance of constructive engagement. We acknowledge the minister’s efforts within the executive to make available the funds to provide this much-needed uplift.

“While this agreement provides some financial relief, it does not resolve the systemic challenges facing our profession. Our focus now turns to the host of other significant issues including, of course, the intolerable levels of school leader workload and shortfalls in school funding, both of which continue to undermine the sustainability of school leadership.”

Dr Graham Gault, national secretary of NAHT NI, added: “Following the decision of our members, we have informed Management Side of our agreement to their offer, and we are pleased that agreement has been reached.

“Although this agreement resolves the issue of pay for the current 2025/26 school year, the challenges our members face around unsustainable workload remain unresolved, and we now look forward to the minister’s response to the recommendations from the Independent Review of Workload.

“Without significant progress on the critical issues that are making the working lives of school leaders increasingly unmanageable, the pressures on our system will continue to grow, and the ability of schools to deliver the high-quality education every child deserves will be placed at serious risk.”