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Government announces pay rises for teachers

Details

The education secretary, Damian Hinds, has announced new pay rises of between 1.5 and 3.5% for teachers, together with additional funding for schools for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

What pay rises have been announced?

Although the headline pay rise is 3.5%, not all teachers will receive this level of pay increase. The percentage pay rise will depend upon the teacher’s level of experience and role:

  • 1.5% rise: teachers on the leadership pay scales
  • 2% rise: more experienced teachers on the upper pay scales
  • 3.5% rise: unqualified teachers and teachers on the main pay scales

Will every teacher automatically get a pay rise?

Many teachers will not automatically receive the pay rise as it will still be for the school to determine what pay rise they will award. The only teachers who will automatically benefit from the pay rise are those at the top and bottom of their respective pay scale.

The teacher pay scales, which are expected to be confirmed in the summer, only apply to local authority maintained and those academies and free schools who adhere to the terms set out in the School Teachers Pay & Conditions Document.

How is the rise being funded?

The announcement confirms that the rises will be funded from the existing Department of Education budget, via a new teachers pay grant worth £187 million in 2018-19 and £321 million in 2019-20, which will be paid to all schools on top of their core budgets from the National Funding Formula. However, it is not clear yet whether these additional funds will be sufficient to fully meet the pay rises, or whether schools will be expected to contribute.

Our schools team is available to advise and assist with any queries or policy work that schools require.

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