The education industry responds to the teacher pay award announcement yesterday that teachers will receive a “landmark” payrise of 8.9% for those joining the profession outside of London and 5% for teachers with 5+ years’ experience.
The latter is “an increase on the government’s initial proposal of 3%, in recognition of the broader economic context and the STRB’s recommendations”, said the DfE.
While, “The competitive new starting salary will help attract top quality talent and further raise the status of the teaching profession.”
Younger teachers’ pay penalty, against their peers in comparative occupations, has increased dramatically more than the average for the profession as a whole – James Zuccollo, EPI
James Zuccollo, director for school workforce at the Education Policy Institute (EPI), said: “In recent years, teachers’ pay has suffered due to low wage growth comparative to the rest of the economy. Unsurprisingly, this year’s teacher pay awards will not reverse this decade-long decline in real terms pay. This decline has negatively impacted important efforts to enhance recruitment and retention within the profession.
“It’s clear, however, that younger teachers’ pay has suffered to a greater extent than that of more experienced teachers. Over the last decade, younger teachers’ pay penalty, against their peers in comparative occupations, has increased dramatically more than the average for the profession as a whole. Teachers outside of London under the age of 30, for instance, earn 10% less than comparative professionals their age, whilst those in their 50s earn only 3.5% less.
“Given their unwillingness to fund a more costly pay settlement, it therefore makes sense for the government to focus the largest wage increases on younger teachers. Narrowing the pay penalties teachers face, where they are most severe, will provide support for recruitment into the profession, where it is most needed. Looking ahead, however, the government must remain focused on improving retention rates for all teachers.”
Meanwhile, NFER school workforce lead, Jack Worth, said: “We welcome the Pay Review Body’s recommendation for teacher pay to increase by more than the government initially proposed in March, especially for experienced teachers, and for the government to accept the recommendation.
Our analysis back in June, which we partnered with the Gatsby Foundation for, showed that the government’s original proposals were insufficient to tackle the growing teacher recruitment and retention challenges, especially in STEM subjects, and recommended that the government revise its pay award.
… we are disappointed that the government has not provided any new funding to cover the additional pay increase. Underfunded teacher pay rises could have costly impacts… Jack Worth, NFER
“However, we are disappointed that the Government has not provided any new funding to cover the additional pay increase. Underfunded teacher pay rises could have costly impacts, such as staff redundancies and reduced resources for other provision, which will be detrimental to pupils’ learning. The Department for Education should urgently be working with the Treasury to get additional funding for schools in the Autumn budget.”
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