EDUCATION staff are keen for change, an education union spokesperson has said after 98 per cent of teacher members agreed they should receive a pay rise.

Peter Shreeve, assistant district secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said smaller Island rural schools and those with greater SEND numbers are more affected, and schools struggle to entice new teachers to the Island. 

Three separate preliminary ballots – from school teachers, support staff and sixth form college NEU members – on pay have now closed.

All results demonstrate the desire for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise, with 98 per cent of teacher members agreeing they should receive a pay rise and 86 per cent willing to take strike action.

Separate preliminary ballots of support and sixth form college staff strongly supported taking action too.  

The NEU wrote to government calling on them to prevent a formal trade dispute, but has received no answer.  

A timetable for a formal ballot and potential dates of strike action will be announced in the coming week.

Mr Shreeve said: "The ballot results show education staff are keen for change. Pay has been eroded considerably in recent years. With the growing cost-of-living crisis, pay needs a boost to allow members to make ends meet.  

"The impact of government refusing to fully fund an above-inflation pay rise will be widespread.

"Smaller Island rural schools and those with greater SEND numbers are less able to absorb additional costs, which will lead to cuts.

"Schools already struggle to keep and attract classroom support staff and to entice new teachers to the Island. Both are a disaster for children’s education."

He said teachers have seen a real-terms cut in salaries of 20 per cent since 2010. 

"That is why we must act on the instructions of our membership and proceed to a formal ballot for action. Staff don’t want to strike – they want to be in the classroom, doing what they do best, educating the Island’s children. 

"Government will point to current economic challenges, but the fact is that while in power – since 2010 – the situation has worsened considerably.

“It is regrettable that we have reached this point, but enough is enough. Government needs a serious answer to more than a decade of declining pay. It is time not only to value education but to value educators, whatever their role."