The teaching unions have reacted angrily to proposals from the Local Government Association that teachers surrender five weeks’ holiday in return for a 20 per cent pay rise, writes Geraldine Hackett.
Under the proposals to be discussed by the National Employers’ Organisation for School Teachers, teaching days would be increased from the present 195 to 215. The extra time would be used for in-service training, staff meetings, parental consultation and lesson preparation.
Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said that teachers would need at least a 50 per cent pay rise to be interested in adding five more weeks to the working year.