TORY Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is “profoundly out of touch” with teachers in England, the National Education Union (NEU) said today, after she sent an email pleading with its members to accept an “insulting” pay deal.

It is “surprising that such widespread condemnation” of the offer — put forward earlier this week after national strikes forced ministers to the negotiating table — has “not registered” with Ms Keegan, NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney remarked. 

After weeks of talks, following months of claims that no more money was available, the government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off cash payment for the current financial year and a 4.3 per cent consolidated wage boost for most educators in 2023-24.