Ministers said a ‘floor but no ceiling’ would be created on teacher pay to ensure schools can attract the top talent in an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill
Teachers in state schools will be set a minimum pay level – but no upper limit – under a change in the law.
Ministers said a “floor but no ceiling” would be created for pay to ensure all schools can attract the top teaching talent.
The government on Tuesday night tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, to enforce the changes.
It means all teachers in academy schools and alternative provision academies will be required to be paid at least a minimum level of pay. Currently, academy teachers’ pay is dictated by their employment contracts.
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The amendment will also allow the School Teacher Review Body to “remove the ceiling on pay”, meaning academies can maintain their flexibility on salaries. It comes after fears were raised that academies would lose their freedoms to set pay and conditions for staff under Labour’s new schools legislation.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “This Government is determined to drive high and rising standards for every child through our Plan for Change so that wherever they live, families will have a good local school for their child, and can be confident they will achieve and thrive.
“We have been clear that we will enable all schools to attract the top teaching talent they need. Our amendment will allow the Education Secretary to ensure that all state school teachers will have a core pay offer that cannot fall below the minimum level, creating a floor but no ceiling.”