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School Teachers' Review Body

Latest STRB Remit

The STRB received its latest remit from the Secretary of State on 8 October 2009. The remit asked the STRB to make recommendations in relation to two matters: (a) appropriate criteria and values for SEN allowances and (b) criteria for leadership roles and progression. The STRB asked RIG and other statutory consultees to submit written evidence on these issues by 4 December 2009.  The RIG written evidence can be found here.

Oral evidence was then presented to the STRB on 20 January 2010 and following this the STRB produced its 19th Report on 30 March 2010.  The Government's reponse to the Report can be found here.

The employers and unions submitted a response to the subsequent consultation on the Report.

Following the election of the Coalition Government in June 2010, the Secretary of State issued a Ministerial Statement indicating that he accepted the STRB's recommendations in respect of the SEN allowances, but that he was not convinced of the need for leadership group posts criteria at this stage.  This Statement also proposed a cap on head teachers' pay, but the Secretary of State has since decided to remit the STRB to consider this alongside a wider review leadership group pay.   The NEOST response  to the consultation on the STPCD 2010 can be found here.

Previous STRB Remits

On 29 March 2007 the Secretary of State sent his remit to the STRB asking them to report on a range of teachers' pay and conditions issues. The first part of the remit related to a three-year pay award covering 2008-11 and the unqualified teachers' pay structure. The second part of the remit covered 'rolled-up' holiday pay for supply teachers, roles and responsibilities and the leadership group pay structure.

RIG joint evidence relating to the first part of the remit was submitted to the STRB on 24 May 2007. In addition, NEOST submitted a short further piece of evidence. The Secretary of State published the STRB's recommendations and his initial response to their recommendations on 15 January 2008. On 19 May 2008, after a period of statutory consultation, the Secretary of State issued a letter with the outcomes of the consultation and his response, including confirmation of the pay rates set out in the STRB's 17th Report Part 1, together with a parliamentary statement.

RIG joint evidence relating to the second part of the remit was submitted to the STRB on 16 October 2007. The STRB's report on these issues and the Secretary of State's initial response were published on 9 April 2008. The employers and the unions submitted a response to the subsequent consultation on the Report. In his parliamentary statement of 19 May 2008 (above) the Secretary of State outlined his intention to follow up a number of recommendations in the report in the context of the STRB's next remit.

On 25 June 2008 the Secretary of State sent the STRB their next remit. The first part of the remit asks them to report, by 23 January 2009, on whether they still recommend a pay award of 2.3 per cent in 2009. It also asks them to report on: an adjustment to the main and upper pay scales in Inner London, potential reform of SEN allowances, regional banding for excellent teachers and a minimum differential between the bottom of the pay band for excellent teachers and the value of U3, modifications to teachers' roles and responsibilities and associated conditions of service from 2009, and changes to the system of reward for school leaders. RIG joint evidence on these issues was submitted to the STRB on 8 September 2008.   The STRB's report  on these issues and the Secretary of State's response  were published on 31 March 2009.

The second part of the June 2008 remit, on which the STRB must report by 12 June 2009, asks the STRB to review the continued appropriateness of a 2.3 per cent increase for 2009 and 2010.  RIG joint evidence  and separate NEOST evidence  on this part of the remit were submitted in February 2009, whilst supplementary evidence from RIG and from NEOST were submitted in May 2009.

Background to STRB

The School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) was established by the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991. It covers approximately 550,000 teachers (475,000 FTE). The STRB took over the role of making recommendations to the Secretary of State on school teachers' pay and conditions of employment from the Interim Advisory Committee. That committee was established in 1987 following the Government's decision to abolish the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee, which was the national collective bargaining body which had operated since 1944.

Membership of STRB and Role of NEOST

The membership of the STRB is determined by the Prime Minister. The secretariat is provided by the Office of Manpower Economics. The annual cycle for the review body starts with a series of directions from the Secretary of State. The STRB receives evidence from employers (including the National Employers' Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST), trade unions and governors' representatives before making recommendations to the Secretary of State. Since 2004, NEOST has submitted joint evidence with other partners in the Rewards and Incentive Group (RIG). The Secretary of State is empowered to accept, amend or reject recommendations from the review body. Since the review body has been reporting, on occasion the recommendations have been modified, mainly to allow for the increase to be paid in stages.

The National Employers' Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST) is the representative body for children's services authorities and local education authorities on matters related to school teachers' pay and conditions. NEOST comprises representatives from the Local Government Association, the Catholic Education Service, the Church of England Board of Education and the Foundation and Aided Schools National Association.

Advice on developments on teachers' pay and conditions and other advice and information is sent to all local authorities. This advice covers:

NEOST consults with local authorities on possible amendments to the conditions of service handbook for teachers in England and Wales (The Burgundy Book), and it negotiates with the teacher unions on any changes which may be required due to legislation or which may be desired by either side.  

Advice and information

The employers' side secretariat is available to provide advice to LEAs on school teachers' pay and conditions. For further information please contact schoolteachers@lge.gov.uk

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