London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

DfE calls for boost to starting teachers’ salaries in England

DfE calls for boost to starting teachers’ salaries in England

Unions ask review body to recommend all teaching staff receive same government-funded increase
The government has called for teachers’ starting salaries in England to rise by more than 16% over the next two years but wants below-inflation increases for more experienced teachers.

In its submission to the school teacher review body (STRB), the independent panel that makes recommendations on pay, the Department for Education (DfE) said it wants the statutory minimum for new teachers to rise by 8.9% in September and by a further 7.1% the following year.

The increases would take the starting salary for qualified teachers from £25,714 to £30,000 in September 2023 – fulfilling a promise made in the 2019 Conservative election manifesto although a year later than promised.

The boost for new teachers would be followed by tapering rises for those with more experience, with the upper end of the early career pay scale increasing by just 2% in 2023-24.

More senior teachers and school leaders would see pay increases of just 3% in 2022-23, and 2% in 2023-24. Last month the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee forecast inflation to hit about 6% later this year and remain above 5% until well into 2023.

The DfE said the pay rises would come from existing school budgets. Although schools have wide discretion over pay, in practice most state schools in England follow the guidance issued by the STRB and government.

The DfE’s submission said it wanted the STRB to back “substantially higher” increases to help recruit and retain young teachers. But it argued that increased pay across the board would eat into school funding, calculating that a 1% pay rise for all teachers translated into £250m less in spending available to schools.

“Investment in teacher pay beyond that which is proposed will therefore limit headteachers’ ability to strike the right balance of investment for their schools, resulting in reduced investment in other priority areas that are also vital in driving the best outcomes for pupils and staff,” the DfE told the STRB.

However, the DfE forecast that the pay rises would only improve retention rates by 0.25%, with just 1,000 more teachers staying in the profession.

The four main teaching unions submitted a joint appeal to the STRB, stating: “Increases to starting pay must be accompanied by equivalent increases for all teachers and school leaders. The increases must be enough to start to restore the pay losses against inflation since 2010.”

The NASUWT said it wanted a 12% pay increase across the board. Patrick Roach, its general secretary, said some teachers were having to use food banks or other forms of charitable assistance, cutting back on essential household items or taking a second job.

“We believe that the current challenges facing the profession are so significant that the government must look more broadly at remuneration, and implement structural reform of the teachers pay framework in order to ensure it is fit for purpose,” Roach said.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We will call on the STRB to recommend that all teachers and school leaders get the same increases proposed for new teachers, and that the government should fully fund it.”

Meanwhile university staff are to continue their industrial action over pay, pensions and working conditions, after the University and College Union announced five more days of strikes later this month.

Staff at 68 universities have just finished 10 days of strikes but employers have failed to make concessions, especially on changes to pensions that the union says will cause cuts of 35% in retirement income for typical members.

The latest round will see 38 universities strike for five days from 21 March to 25 March, and another 30 universities striking from 28 March to 1 April, affecting more than 1 million students.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×