The government and education trade unions are to start “intensive talks” today, after the NEU teaching union concluded its latest dates of strike action.
The talks, which will continue over the weekend, will focus on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction.
The NEU has said that no further strike dates will be announced in the next two weeks.
The talks will include all four of the main education unions: the NEU, the Association of School and College Leaders, the NAHT and the NASUWT.
In a joint public statement this morning, the unions and the government said that “in order for talks to begin and, we hope, reach a successful conclusion, the NEU has confirmed it will create a period of calm for two weeks during which time they have said no further strike dates will be announced”.
The education secretary Gillian Keegan and all unions will meet today (Friday 17 March), beginning intensive talks, which will continue over the weekend.
In order to “protect the integrity of the talks”, all parties have agreed not to make any public statements on the details of the talks - including through the media and on social media.
These will be the first talks between the NEU and the government in weeks after the education secretary set the precondition that she would not meet with the union until strike action was paused.
The union had previously called the approach “new and unusual”.
The NEU held two national strike days this week on 15 and 16 March, with a reported 50,000 teachers attending a march and rally in the capital.
The education secretary met with leaders of three of the main education unions this week, but not the NEU.
