The Department for Education is commissioning research into the effects of this year’s teacher pay rise, including whether it has had any “unintended impacts” on the retention of more experienced teachers.

The 3.1 per cent pay rise from September includes a 5.5 per cent increase in the starting salary for the profession - but just 2.75 per cent for the bulk of experienced teachers.

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And now the DfE is calling for “expressions of interest” from private research companies to carry out the research, for a contract worth £120,000.

Teacher pay deal: Has it affected staff retention?

It says the objectives are to:

• Explore whether increased starting salaries affect decisions to enter and remain in the profession.
• Determine whether the reformed pay structure impacts on the career progression and aspiration of teachers.
• Assess whether the pay reforms have any unintended impacts, particularly on the retention and progression of more experienced teachers (METs).
• Determine whether schools have adopted the proposed reforms, in particular the revised advisory pay points, and whether this has posed any implementation challenges.
• Explore the views and reactions of potential trainees, trainees, early-career teachers, METs and school leaders to the reforms.
• Examine how the pay reforms have affected those with protected characteristics.

Back in July, heads’ union the Association of School and College Leaders warned that a much lower pay rise for experienced teachers, compared with new starters, felt like a “kick in the teeth”.