Teachers’ Pay Scales Explained

Written by Dan

Last updated

Are you a teacher trying to figure out your salary? Do you want to know how much your peers are making? Read on to learn about teachers’ pay scales explained. Depending on experience, education, and location, salaries can vary greatly. Learn all about it here!

Each year, the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) publishes binding provisions on pay for teachers in all local-authority-maintained schools. Furthermore, it provides governing bodies and headteachers with statutory guidance that must be considered when making decisions.

The majority of academy trusts incorporate these regulations outlined by STPCD as part of their teacher’s employment contracts – even though they are not legally bound to do so.

Related: For more, check out our article on What Teaching Jobs Pay The Most  here.

Every governing body must adhere to the STPCD to develop and maintain a written school pay policy that outlines all decision-making structures for pay assessments, discretionary decisions, and appeals proceedings.

Furthermore, each procedure should feature established teacher salary scales and criteria employed when making pay determinations, which must be reviewed annually with input from teachers and union representatives. You will ensure that your school’s policies remain current by consistently adhering to this process.

The pay policy should include a promise of fairness, transparency, collaboration and responsibility – the NEU’s model pay policy offers some great examples of this objective.

All deserving teachers could expect a minimum annual salary of £28,000. This rate is even higher for those based in the city of London!

Qualified teacher salary

Highly-qualified teachers will be compensated according to their pay scale at your school. You can expect that the amount you make is connected to your performance and reviewed annually rather than based on time worked.

Typically, experienced instructors cancan earn more than the maximum salary by advancing on the upper teacher’s wage range or becoming exceptional practitioners.

If you are still determining which type of London area you’ll teach in – inner, outer or fringe – talking with your school should provide some clarity.

Upper pay range for teachers

You will be eligible for higher pay if you can showcase exemplary performance regarding all the teacher standards. This is given to teachers who have made a long-lasting and considerable difference at their school.

Leading practitioner salaries

If you are an outstanding educator who consistently displays exemplary teaching practices in your classroom, you may be qualified to receive a higher salary. Leading practitioners provide support and guidance for new instructors and early career teachers (ECTs), even though they may need department heads’ authority.

Headteacher salaries

Headteachers are accountable for all teachers and students as the most senior person in a school. Their scope of responsibility is extensive but involves motivating their staff and ensuring that every pupil receives an exceptional education.

Other payments

To reward you for taking on additional responsibilities, there are Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments available. This could include progressing the education of your assigned pupils as well as leading, developing and enhancing the teaching practices of others. Your TLR payment can range from one to two, depending on your specific responsibilities.

Unqualified teacher salaries

In England, to become a teacher, you must have ‘qualified teacher status’ (QTS). If you don’t possess this qualification, working as an instructor in certain schools is still possible.

Holidays

If you become a teacher, you’ll be rewarded more vacation days than the average professional.

With full-time teaching jobs offering up to 195 days off per year, it’s significantly more leisure time than an office job offers – 227 workdays on average annually!

Moreover, teachers are further blessed by one of the most generous pension schemes in the country – making this career choice truly attractive and rewarding.

A teachers’ pension scheme is a ‘defined benefit pension, meaning it’s based on your teaching salary and not the amount of money you transfer. It provides tax-free contributions for all registered members with HM Revenue and Customs.

The scheme also offers flexibility by granting access to specific components as tax-free lump sums. Furthermore, participating in this plan gives access to additional insurance benefits too! Get informed about what else the teachers’ pension scheme offers today!

At the end of the day, teaching is a well-paid and gratifying career that offers many opportunities for personal growth. Teachers get generous salaries and holidays; they can also make lasting impacts in their schools, communities, and even countries!

With so many pros to consider, it’s no wonder why so many people are interested in becoming teachers.

If you’re looking for a job that offers financial stability and valuable experiences, then teaching is the perfect career choice for you! Get informed today and explore the possibilities available to you as a teacher!

For more quizzes, plans and units of work, visit our TES store. This year the big question is whether teachers will strike! Read our latest article!

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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