I originally qualified in 1993 and taught for a year or two in a state school. During this period, I moved up a couple of spine points. However, for the past 10 years I have been teaching English in a number of private schools. Where on the pay scale would it be reasonable for me to be placed on any return to the state sector?
There are provisions for cases such as yours in the Teachers Pay and Conditions document. Had you last taught in a maintained school before 1993, it would be up to the employer to decide what salary to offer.
However, as you have had some service since then, there are assimilation safeguarding criteria. These take account of the fact that the pay scales have been through several major revisions since you last taught in the state sector. If you were on Point 2, when you left around 1995, you may still only be on the equivalent of M1 on the present scale. You can ask the school for extra discretionary points to cover your additional experience, but with no shortage of teachers of English across most of the country and budgets tight, don’t be surprised if you receive a distinctly lukewarm response.
