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Teacher pay structure

Guidance on how teachers’ pay is structured in England and Wales, including allowances and additional ranges or scales. 

Classroom teachers, i.e. those who are not head teachers, deputy or assistant head teachers or leading practitioners, are paid on the main pay range (MPR) and the upper pay range (UPR) in England, and on the main pay scale (MPS) and upper pay scale (UPS) in Wales.

Additional pay ranges

Pay for leadership teachers

Schools determine the individual pay ranges for head teachers, deputy and assistant head teachers, subject to statutory criteria set out in the STPCDs. The individual pay scale points recommended in the joint union advice for England can be found at Pay scales – England and for Wales at Pay scales – Wales.

Leading practitioners

Leading practitioners are paid on individual five point pay ranges from the leading practitioners’ pay range. The individual pay scale points recommended in the joint union pay advice for England can be found at Pay scales – England and for Wales at Pay scales – Wales

Unqualified teachers

Unqualified teachers must be paid on the unqualified teachers’ pay range (Pay scales – England / Pay scales – Wales), unless they are on one of the employment-based routes into teaching when schools have the discretion to pay them on the same basis as qualified teachers. They may also be paid additional responsibility allowances, for which there are no prescribed values. 

School teacher pay FAQ

This Q&A document is a comprehensive overview to the teachers’ pay structure and classroom teachers’ pay scales.

Pay scales – England

Find the latest pay scales for teachers and leaders in England, including the upper pay range and TLR allowances.

Pay bargaining calendar listing

Pay bargaining toolkit

This pay bargaining toolkit will provide you and your colleagues with the guidance and resources you need to take a pro-active approach to pay bargaining in your workplace.

Find out more
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