TEACHERS’ PAY POLICY 2017

The Local Authority would like to discuss with the Schools Forum the implementation of the Teachers Pay and Conditions 2017 (the teachers’ pay policy for the 2017/18 academic year).

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider the information presented and to provide feedback to the Authority, including on the nature of further consultation and communication with schools.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Employee Relations Manager attended the Forum to explain the decision that is required to be taken by the Council regarding the discretionary element of the teacher’s main pay scale award for 2017/18 and to collect the Forum’s feedback on whether schools should be further surveyed before a final decision is taken.

He explained that the following recommendations were made in the STRB’s report and were accepted by the Government:

·         2% uplift to the minimum and maximum of the main pay range (MPR);

·         1% uplift to the minima and maxima of the upper pay range (UPR), the unqualified teacher pay range and the leading practitioner pay range;

·         1% uplift to the minima and maxima of the leadership group pay range and all head teacher group pay ranges; and,

·         1% uplift to the minima and maxima of the Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) and Special Educational Needs (SEN) allowance ranges.

However, there is also a discretionary element to this year’s pay award of an additional 1% to all reference points within the MPR (other than the minimum and maximum) and this is left to local determination. There is no national recommendation either way on this discretionary element. It is for the Strategic Director, Children’s Services to recommend and decide.

The Employee Relations Manager explained that the Teacher Trade Unions, including the NAHT, nationally have issued joint advice that the discretionary element should be paid and that they will only support Pay Policies that include this. Bradford Council has met with the local Trade Unions representatives to brief them on the above position and the Unions have reiterated this position. The Employee Relations Manager stated that 3 out of 4 regional authorities have already taken the decision to implement the discretionary 1%, with the other having not yet taken the decision but stating that it is minded to do so.

The Representative of the Teaching Trade Unions clarified that the Council’s decision relates only to the Council’s pay policy for teachers (in community and voluntary controlled schools). In this, the Unions would expect the Council to meet with the Unions through the established bargaining framework. Schools, where the governing body is the employer, and Academy Trusts are required to take their own decisions. He also stated that one of the strong arguments for implementing the discretionary element so that the construct of the MPS is retained, as most schools continue to use a points structure. He reported that all the individual employers of teachers in Bradford (41 in total) that the Unions have spoken to so far have said that they will be implementing 2% across the MPS.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services stated that the Council needs to ensure that Bradford remains competitive in its recruitment of high quality teachers. We also need to be very careful to avoid the possibility of equal value pay claims. These factors potentially lead us towards a decision to implement. However, it is understood that there will be immediate financial consequences for school budgets. The Strategic Director stated that he will take a decision quickly.

Forum Members expressed different views about whether a survey of schools should be taken before a final decision is made. The Forum’s majority view was that a decision needs to be taken quickly and that a survey is not necessary. However, some Forum Members expressed concern about the implications for individual school budgets. One Member in particular asked for this to be recorded.

Resolved –

That the Local Authority considers the advice of the Schools Forum (the feedback and views recorded in the minutes of the meeting) in its decision making on this matter.

Action:          HR Manager Employee Relations