£30,000 starting salaries proposed for teachers

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced plans for the biggest reform to teacher pay in a generation, which could see salaries for new teachers rise to £30,000 by 2022-23.

From September, the government will be fully funding increased contributions into the Teacher’s Pension Scheme, so that school leaders can focus as much of their resources as possible on the front line. This means that teachers will get an employer contribution of 23.6 per cent on top their salary towards their pension every year to ensure the scheme is fully funded.

The government insists that the move will make starting salaries for teachers among the most competitive in the graduate labour market, building on the above-inflation average pay increases for teachers in the last two years.

The £14 billion investment recently announced by the Prime Minister will ensure that pay can be increased for all teachers.

To ensure teaching continues to be attractive as teachers’ lives develop, a group of Ambassador Schools to champion flexible working are also set to be introduced. These will be responsible for sharing good practice on how to successfully implement flexible working in schools, utilising case studies and practical resources for teachers and school leaders. Once fully rolled out, these will form part of an overall flexible working toolkit.

Williamson said: “Teachers truly are the lifeblood of a school and I have been instantly impressed by the dedication, commitment and hard work that I have seen from those at the front of our classrooms. I want the best talent to be drawn to the teaching profession and for schools to compete with biggest employers in the labour market and recruit the brightest and the best into teaching.

“Teachers should be in no doubt that this government fully backs them in every stage of their career, starting with rewarding starting salaries, and giving them the powers they need to deal with bad behaviour and bullying and continue to drive up school standards right across the country.”