The Spending Review has signalled the end to the public sector pay freeze, an additional £1.8bn for education recovery, and an extra £4.7bn for the schools’ budget by 2024/25. But questions – and fears – remain. Pete Henshaw reports

As the public sector pay freeze is lifted, ministers should not restrict the work of the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) as it makes it recommendations for teacher pay from next September.

Teacher and leadership unions have also called for pay rises to take into account the expected high rates of inflation and to be fully funded for schools.

Unveiling his Spending Review in the House of Commons on Wednesday (October 27), chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that the public sector one-year pay freeze will end next year.

The Spending Review states: “Public sector workers will see pay rises over the next three years as the recovery in the economy and labour market allows a return to a normal pay-setting process. The government will be seeking recommendations from pay review bodies where applicable.”

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