I have been contacted by several of you who, like me, would appreciate the Government acting swiftly to end the current crisis in our schools.

As we rapidly approach the end of the summer term, I understand school governors and leaders are still waiting to hear from the Department for Education what pay rise they will be expected to implement for teachers from September and whether additional funding will be provided to schools to finance this.

My constituents highlight that head teachers are trying to plan their budgets for the next school year, to cope with the worsening recruitment and retention crisis in education and to ensure the best resources and opportunities for their students. A lot of you have emphasised that you cannot plan properly against the uncertain backdrop.

I understand the Government has received the report of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which makes recommendations on teacher and leader pay and that the Sunday Times reported a full month ago that the STRB was advising a 6.5 per cent increase. I am troubled therefore that the Government has thus far declined to reveal the content of the report nor ministers’ response to its recommendations.

I know that some of you understandably feel it is disrespectful in the extreme for ministers to conceal the STRB report when they will have to publish it within the next few weeks. I am informed that in previous years the delayed publication of this report has caused much disruption to our members, and that teachers across Lancaster and Fleetwood feel it is imperative that we avoid a repeat of this. Teachers are also troubled that at the same time, that the Government is refusing to enter talks with the unions to resolve the ongoing dispute over pay. It is clear that the Government is not prioritising education.

I have contacted the Secretary of State to request that the STRB report be published without further delay and for the Government to enter talks with the unions to resolve the pay dispute!

I very much share all of your concerns on this matter and if you would like to contact me regarding this or anything else, then please do not hesitate to email me at: cat.smith.mp@parliament.uk.