New teacher pay by 2022 pledge facing delay

Turning its back on a salary pledge made by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson last September, the government has announced that it will no longer be bringing in teacher starting salaries of £30,000 by September 2022.

Instead, the Treasury said that the £30,000 salaries would only be introduced by the end of this Parliament’, meaning a likely delay by up to two years. The announcement follows the Spending Review, in which Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that teachers would not be getting a pay rise next year.

Williamson announced last year that NQTs outside of London would start on £30,000 per year from 2022 in a bid to make the teaching profession more attractive to graduates, with the rise of £6,000 in starting salaries for new teachers part of plans to ‘level up’ teachers salaries.

Kate Green, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said: “This is a kick in the teeth for dedicated teachers who have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to ensure children continue to receive their education. The government claims to be working to deliver ‘world class’ education, but it’s breaking its manifesto commitment to teachers. Real terms cuts to school funding and under valuing of staff risks driving experienced teachers from our classrooms.”