Thank you for contacting me about pay for teachers and teaching support staff. I am aware that over the course of the pandemic teachers and educational staff have faced many challenges and played an incredible role in ensuring that children have continued to receive a fantastic education.
The Department for Education has confirmed the intention to accept the recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body in full. This includes a pay award of £250 for all teachers earning less than £24,000, or the recommended equivalent value for teachers in London pay areas, and the introduction of advisory pay points on the unqualified teacher pay range, as was the case for teachers on the main pay range and upper pay range last year.
The funding for core schools was increased by £2.2 billion for the 2021-22 financial year and the 2021 Spending Review confirmed an additional £4.7 billion by 2024-25 for the core schools budget.
I am aware that a consultation has taken place on the Government’s response to these recommendations and on a revised school teachers’ pay and conditions document and pay order, which lasted for eight weeks.
The announcement in the Budget and Spending Review 2021 that the Government will look to increase teachers' pay is welcome. Further, I am encouraged that the Department for Education is committed to supporting the delivery of increasing teacher starting salaries to £30,000.
I have visited several schools across Teignbridge in recent months, and the message has been clear that, in addition to higher starting pay, we need to see experienced teachers and support staff rewarded with appropriate pay increases. I have raised this point with ministerial colleagues – it is so important for our most experienced local educations staff in particular to feel valued and properly supported to remain in the profession where their skills are of such great benefit to local pupils.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone working in education across our area once again for their remarkable commitment throughout the enormous challenges presented by COVID