Teachers and school leaders in England are set to receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise from September after the government accepted an independent review body's recommendations.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also backed the School Teachers’ Review Body’s call for a 3 per cent increase from September 2027.
However, schools must fund the initial one per cent of each award.
In October, the Department for Education (DfE) suggested in its evidence to the STRB that teachers’ pay should rise by 6.5% across 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.
Unions had warned the proposals were “extremely disappointing” and could make teacher shortages worse, and called for any pay increase to be fully funded.
Earlier this year, the National Education Union, the UK’s largest teaching union, said it would launch a formal ballot for strike action if the Government failed to make a fully funded, above-inflation pay offer.
On Wednesday, the DfE also announced that academy trust executives’ pay will be capped at £174,000 from September.
Trusts will need to seek government approval before advertising roles over that salary.
Ms Philipson said: “Our brilliant school and college teachers go above and beyond every day, and I’m determined that dedication is not just recognised, but rewarded.
“This multi-year deal, backed by significant additional investment, shows the immense value we place in our teachers, while giving schools and colleges certainty over pay and their budgets.
“It’s also right that classroom teachers are not seeing executive pay rise faster than their own – or set at excessive levels in the first place – so tighter controls will mean unjustifiable exec salaries become a thing of the past, helping level the playing field for school staff and drive every pound towards classrooms.”
The DfE also said additional funding of £1.8 billion will be provided to schools over two years to support pay rises for teachers and support staff, and an additional £485 million will be provided to colleges and further education providers over the same timeframe.
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