TEACHERS across the UK will benefit from pay increases of between per cent per cent and 8.9 per cent from September, as the government on Tuesday (19) fully accepted pay recommendations from the independent School Teachers’ Review Body for the next academic year.
The starting salary for teachers outside London will rise by 8.9 per cent, with salaries reaching £28,000 in the 2022-23 academic year. This means that the government is making good progress towards meeting its manifesto commitment for new teacher pay to rise to £30,000 and from September, a new teacher will receive over £2,000 more than this year, a press release from the education department said.
The competitive new starting salary will help attract top quality talent and further raise the status of the teaching profession.
Those in the early stages of their careers will also benefit from significant increases, ranging from five per cent to eight per cent, depending on experience.
The pay for experienced teachers who have been in the profession for more than five years will rise by five per cent in the next academic year – an increase on the government’s initial proposal of three per cent, in recognition of the broader economic context and the STRB’s recommendations.
The rise is equivalent to an increase of almost £2,100 on the average salary of £42,400 this year.
British education secretary James Cleverly said, “Teachers are the fabric of our school system and it is their dedication and skill that ensures young people can leave school with the knowledge and opportunities they need to get on in life.
“We are delivering significant pay increases for all teachers despite the present economic challenges, pushing teacher starting salaries up towards the £30,000 milestone and giving experienced teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation. This will attract even more top-quality talent to inspire children and young people and reward teachers for their hard work.”
The latest pay award – alongside the suite of high quality, free to access training courses available to teachers – is part of the government’s drive to make sure there is an excellent teacher in every classroom across the country, helping ensure that wherever a child lives they have the quality of education and the opportunities they deserve.
The government is targeting early career teacher pay with the highest percentage uplifts as this is where salaries can most effectively support recruitment and retention. Those in the first five years of their careers will see pay rises of between 5 per cent and 8.9 per cent, supporting teachers on the lowest incomes where the cost of living pressures are felt most.
Pay awards this year strike a careful balance between recognising the vital importance of public sector workers, whilst delivering value for the taxpayer and managing the broader economic context. The five per cent pay rise for experienced teachers is intended as a responsible solution to both supporting teachers with the cost of living and the sound management of schools’ budgets.
By contrast, double digit pay awards for public sector workers would lead to sustained higher levels of inflation. This would have a far bigger impact on people’s real incomes in the long run than the proportionate and balanced pay increases recommended by the independent Pay Review Bodies now.
The government has decided that it is appropriate to confirm teachers’ salaries for the next academic year only, rather than the two years initially proposed, and return to the usual timeframe for the pay setting process for 2023-24.
Academies, as usual, have the freedom to set their own pay policies.
The pay uplifts come alongside provisional school funding figures released on Tuesday for the 2023-24 financial year, in which the core schools budget is set to receive a £1.5 billion boost. This extra money builds on this year’s increase of £4 billion, which schools are already benefitting from. It means that in the 2023-24 financial year, primary school pupils will attract £5,023 on average and secondary school pupils will attract £6,473 on average.
Taken together with the funding increases seen this year, funding through the schools NFF will be 7.9 per cent higher per pupil in 2023-24, compared to 2021-22.
Forsyth was awarded a CBE for services to literature in 1997Getty Images
