Education secretary seeks advice on teacher pay points

2019-09-26

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has asked the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for advice on potential changes to teacher progression pay points.


The move comes after ministers pledged to boost teacher starting salaries for those working outside London to £30,000 by 2022, with Williamson seeking to see how a ‘flatter’ pay model might work.


On top of this, the STRB has been asked to question whether having both main and upper pay ranges is necessary for a new model.


Mr Williamson has sought “additional advice to schools on the pay progression pathway for classroom teachers” in his remit letter to the body for 2020.


As starting salaries would be higher, it is suggested there would need to be a ‘flatter’ rise in later pay to go with it.


The letter outlines a “strong case for schools to move towards a relatively flatter pay progression structure than is currently typical” when accompanied by “significantly higher starting and early careers salaries”.


Mr Williamson also stated that the STRB will want to ensure that pay rises “are affordable within the funding settlement announced”, although he stopped short of giving his view on what sort of increase would be affordable for 2020-2021.


He requested an “assessment of the adjustments that should be made to the salary and allowance ranges” for all school staff to “promote recruitment and retention”.


The STRB should recommend rises “within the bounds of affordability across the whole school system and with the need for higher starting salaries in mind, he stated.


You can view all of our jobs here or alternatively you can submit your CV - your local education recruitment consultant will get in touch with you shortly.