SNCT Extended Joint Chairs – Pay Update
The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and the Scottish Government) met on Friday 5 September following the rejection of the latest pay offer by the Teachers’ Side.
The rejected offer was:
- 4% from August 2025
- 3.5% from August 2026
This proposal failed to deliver a real-terms increase above inflation, particularly in the second year, and did not include an adequate restorative element.
The Teachers’ Side highlighted the following concerns:
- A 4% increase in year one is close to or below current inflation (CPI and RPI).
- The offer is not regarded as a restorative pay increase.
- The 3.5% increase in year two is unacceptable without a reopener clause, given the unpredictability of future inflation. Without this safeguard, the offer risks becoming a pay cut in real terms.
The next meeting of the SNCT Extended Joint Chairs will take place during the week beginning 15 September.
SPPA 2025 Annual Benefit Statements
The SPPA has confirmed that all active members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme should have received communication regarding their 2025 Annual Benefit Statement. The SPPA used the contact details currently held on its system.
If you have not received your statement, please:
- Log in to the SPPA website.
- Check and update your contact details if necessary.
The SPPA has also launched a new online member portal, Engage, which enables members to register and view their most recent (2025) statement.
The 2025 pension statements have been redesigned to provide greater clarity. Contributions made between 2015–2022 are now shown as returned to the original ‘legacy’ scheme, alongside contributions to the CARE scheme.
Please note: Members who joined the Teachers’ Pension Scheme after 1 April 2015 entered directly into the CARE scheme and did not contribute to the legacy scheme.
SSTA Pupil Behaviour Survey – Final Reminder
The SSTA Pupil Behaviour Survey has already received over 800 responses.
Early findings indicate:
- 80% of members report experiencing threatening verbal aggression from pupils at least once a month.
- Only 18% of members felt that issues were resolved when a pupil was returned to class.
The results show that verbal aggression is too often treated as a normal and accepted part of school life, with few meaningful consequences.
⏳ The survey will close on Friday, 12 September. We strongly encourage all members who have not yet taken part to complete the survey and ensure their views are represented. Any member who has not received the link to complete the survey, please email info@ssta.org.uk to request the link
Recruit a Member
The start of the new term brings fresh faces to our staffrooms. Please take a moment to welcome new colleagues and encourage them to join the SSTA. One new member in every school makes a real difference. There are several great offers for new members—just direct them to the SSTA website, where joining is quick and easy. www.ssta.org.uk/join
SSTA Membership Offers
- ALL NQTS – Free Until January 2027
- ALL New Members – 50% off subscription fees for the first 12 months
- ALL Part-time members – Pay a reduced subscription of 50% off the full-time subscription (unique to SSTA)