I have just started my third year as an unqualified teacher. I have also changed schools. The finance officer has told me that I won’t receive the same salary as last year when I was paid on point 2 of the unqualified teacher scale, but will return to point 1. Is this correct?

Until this September the finance officer would have been able to take this step. However, under a change in the rules governing pay and conditions, any incremental points due to unqualified teachers who are on contracts offered after September 1, 2005, are now permanent, whether the person remains in the same post or takes up a new one. Those paid on the unqualified teacher scale are also entitled to an increment in September if they have remained in the same post for more than a year. If you transfer to the qualified teacher scale you will do so at the next point on that scale above your current pay point, or higher if the relevant bodies consider it appropriate.