The government must 鈥渋mmediately鈥 publish its pay and funding offer to teachers and leaders, unions have said, warning ministers will 鈥減ay a heavy political price鈥 at the election for any 鈥渃ontinued failure鈥 to invest. The National Education Union, NASUWT teaching union and NAHT and ASCL school leaders鈥 union have written a calling for the publication of the School Teachers鈥 Review Body鈥檚 recommendations and government鈥檚 response. They are demanding a “fully-funded, above-inflation pay increase for all teachers and school leaders in September 2024. Anything less would be an abnegation of the government鈥檚 responsibility to protect our education service. 鈥淭he government will pay a heavy political price at the general election for any continued failure to make the investment needed to support our education service.鈥 It comes amid reports that Rishi Sunak is preparing to announce that the general election will be held on July 4. Pledge to align with budgeting ‘undermined’ The STRB report and response are normally published at the end of term, after leaders have drawn up draft budgets for the next academic year, throwing that budgeting process into chaos. The anticipated election announcement also increases the likelihood that the pay deal won’t be confirmed until mid or late July, as government prepares to go into the pre-election “purdah” period which restricts announcements. Last year, the government promised to 鈥渨ork to align the timing of the STRB process with the school budget cycle in future鈥. Gillian Keegan In their letter, the unions urged Keegan to 鈥渋mmediately publish the STRB report and to confirm the government鈥檚 2024-25 pay and funding offer to teachers and school leaders鈥. 鈥淭here is no good reason for you to delay publishing the STRB report and compelling reasons to publish it now.鈥 They pointed to the pledge to align the process with the school budgeting cycle, and warned that 鈥渁ny further delay in publishing the STRB report will undermine this commitment鈥. It comes after the Headteachers’ Roundtable group of leaders called for a “long-term approach to reliable pay and progression to secure a consistent, sustainable supply of staff”. “Pay settlements cannot represent an annual circus of delay and disappointment. Leaders must be able to plan over time for pay progression. All staff working in schools must know the sector provides consistently competitive salaries for all to pursue a rewarding career.” ‘Need for change is overwhelming’ The government has been repeatedly criticised for delays to the pay-setting process. The government鈥檚 remit letter was issued just days before Christmas, and the government was late in submitting its own evidence to the STRB. 鈥淲e have engaged fully in the STRB process, including meeting consultation deadlines that you missed. You must now support schools in the planning and consultation on pay implementation that should take place before the end of this term,鈥 the unions said. They said parents, pupils and education workers were 鈥渁ffected by the government鈥檚 failing education policies鈥. 鈥淔or more than a decade, the government has underinvested in our education service and undervalued our teachers and school leaders. The need for change is overwhelming.鈥 They said as the STRB 鈥渟its on your desk, the already critical recruitment and retention problems are getting worse鈥. 鈥淎ny delay in the publication of the report will make those problems worse.鈥 They said 鈥渕any teachers and school leaders鈥 would be 鈥渃onsidering leaving the profession鈥 ahead of the May 31 deadline to give their notice. 鈥淲e expect the government to make the investment needed to repair the damage to education.”