Teacher pay has been making headlines recently, but with all the talk of industrial action due to below-inflation rises, many might be wondering, “What exactly does the current salary offer mean for my own pay packet?” 

And, because of the way teacher pay works, despite the new pay scales being approved, salaries don’t update in September, leaving some teachers confused about when they will see their own pay rise.

It is important to note that the pay scales in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document 2022 are a statutory requirement for maintained schools. Academies, free schools and schools in the independent sector are able to set their own pay scales.

For this reason, it is always sensible to check your own school’s policy. 

Teacher pay: when will my salary increase?

Although the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document 2022 has been updated with the new approved pay increases for teachers in England, you probably noticed that your monthly payment in September was the same as in August.

This is because until every member of staff has had their performance management review, and salaries have been agreed by the headteacher and governors, your pay stays the same.

The exact date of when this happens will depend on your own school’s performance management schedule. Typically, teachers can expect confirmation of salary between October and January.

The below table shows the pay increases you can expect depending on which range you are in.

Will my pay be backdated?

Yes. The pay increases came into effect in September 2022 and therefore, once the salaries have been approved, pay packets will reflect the new salary plus backdated pay to cover the months between September and the date the new salary comes into effect.

For example, in a scenario where a teacher is at the top of the upper pay scale on U3, and performance management is completed in November, they can expect to receive a 5 per cent salary increase. 

This means that their December pay packet will include a salary that will reflect the increase, plus a one-off payment covering the difference in pay for September, October and November.

What if I am due to progress up the pay scale?

If you’re a teacher who is progressing up the pay scale, the above will apply at the new, higher rate. Pay will also be backdated.

For example, in a scenario where a teacher moving from M5 to M6, and performance management is completed in November, they will be due to receive an 13.8 per cent increase by rising from £34,100 to £38,810. 

In December’s pay packet their salary will reflect the increase plus a one-off payment covering the difference in pay for September, October and November.

What if I’m an early career teacher?

For our newest teachers (first-year early career teachers (ECTs) who have started teaching in 2022), although their payscale point will remain unchanged on M1, they will receive an 8.9 per cent increase. 

And because these teachers are new to the classroom, their pay increase is not subject to performance management review, and the change will be automatic.

In a scenario where a school completes performance management reviews in November, a first-year ECT’s pay packet will include the increase plus a one-off payment covering the difference in pay for September, October and November.

Second-year ECTs who entered the classroom in 2021 will be making their first move on the pay scale from M1 to M2 and will receive a 15.8 per cent increase. 

In a scenario where performance management is completed in November, in December their salary will reflect the increase plus a one-off payment covering the difference in pay for September, October and November.

What if I am getting a Teaching and Learning Responsibility payment?

If you’re a teacher who is also a head of department or subject lead, for example, you may also get a Teaching and Learning Responsibility payment on top of your salary. 

TLR payments have also increased, and the minimum and maximum amounts have risen by 5 per cent. These payments, just like salary pay, will also be backdated.

How about senior leaders?

Teachers paid on the leadership scale and lead practitioner scale can also expect a 5 per cent pay rise, and pay will be backdated using the same process as for classroom teachers on the main scale.

Similarly, headteacher pay scales have also risen by 5 per cent, and the same process applies.

What about the strike action?

Members of unions are currently being balloted on whether to take strike action over pay. If industrial action does go ahead, it will likely take place at the end of January. 

If the action is successful and an increase on the teacher pay offerl is agreed, then the teacher pay and conditions document will be updated.

Whether or not this extra pay would be backdated would depend upon the deal the unions broker with the Department for Education.