EDUCATION Secretary Gillian Keegan appears to have suggested she is not in charge of the school teachers’ pay review process in a letter to NASUWT.

The teaching union shared its fears that the move is deliberately designed to pave the way for further real-terms pay cuts for staff as it shared Ms Keegan’s letter today.

Last week, NASUWT opened a dispute with the education secretary over delays in issuing a remit to the School Teachers’ Pay Review Body, which is important for school leaders to plan their budgets.

She wrote: “We are working with colleagues across government to get remit letters issued as soon as possible,” implying she was no longer in charge.

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said teachers are being treated with utter contempt and that ministers were making the body’s remit “defunct.”

He added: “It feels as though the Secretary of State is resorting to weak excuses in order to continue to delay the commencement of the pay award process for 2024/25.”