March 2024

The support staff unions (UNISON, GMB and Unite) have submitted their pay claim for 2024/25 to the employers. This calls for an increase of at least £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) on all spinal column points. 

Alongside the pay claim, they also ask for:

• Reviews of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps in local government.
• A two-hour reduction in the working week with no detriment 
• An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes (with term time only staff also receiving a full day rather than a pro rata amount, that they can use at any time, including term time) 
• A phased approach to reaching a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour in a maximum of two years, sooner if possible.

You can access full details of the claim here.

February 2024

The unions are expected to submit their pay claim for 2024/25 at the end of February 2024. 

NAHT's view on the local government pay scales

We do not believe that the current local government pay scales offer enough flexibility to recognise the status and seniority of a school business leader (SBL) role, nor do they take account of the growth in the scope and responsibility of SBLs' roles over recent years.

We are clear that in the long term, there should be a national framework that defines the roles and sets out the pay and conditions of all those employed in a national, publicly funded education system, including SBLs. We have repeatedly and extensively made this case to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), including in our latest work, which you can find here.

We continue to call for a significant pay increase for all teachers and leaders, including school business leaders, which is fully funded by the government. In the interim, NAHT has developed member advice around SBL pay and grading to support individuals with their personal circumstances and offer support to individual members with their cases for pay reviews.