Pay toolkit
Use our pay toolkit to secure pay progression, by taking collective action or by pursuing and winning appeals against decisions that individual teachers should not progress.
The Government’s inaction on teacher pay has led a recruitment and retention crisis, worsening each year as pupil numbers increase. Since 2010, classroom teacher salaries have fallen by 15% in real terms.
While a 2.75% pay rise for teachers is inadequate after their 15% drop in real terms pay since 2010, the Government must announce that they will fully fund the pay rise, if they are at all concerned about teacher recruitment and retention or the pressures on school budgets.
We will be supporting members to ensure that you and your colleagues do actually receive this increase and any pay progression to which you are entitled.
School teacher pay in England
How is pay decided?
How can you protect pay at your workplace?
- Organise a meeting of members to discuss pay and identify any issues you can raise together
- Download our PowerPoint Presentation to use at meetings
- Collectively identify issues to raise with your head and chair of governors using NEU model letter
- Collectively come together to discuss response from your school leadership and decide your next steps
- If you need any support contact your branch secretary.
How do we protect teacher pay nationally?
Each year we send evidence on pay, based on our members’ experiences, to the School Teachers’ Review Body. Read our press release to the Department for Education's proposals to the School Teachers’ Review Body, and the latest NEU evidence to the STRB sets out the case for a pay increase of 7% for all teachers in England and was sent on 20 January.
In November, the NEU, ASCL, NAHT and Voice sent a joint response to the Secretary of State’s letter to the STRB asking for recommendations on teachers’ pay and conditions for 2020. See more NEU STRB 2020 submission.
Tackling pay progression
As well as seeing their annual cost of living award cut back or withheld entirely, some teachers have also been denied pay progression. NEU pressure has helped to ensure that pay progression is still the norm, but NEU surveys have revealed that it is a problem for some teachers. As with other pay issues, it is essential that members act collectively to support pay progression in the school.
Advice and guidance
The NEU has produced a range of information and advice on teacher pay issues. As well as advice on the annual cost of living award, there is an NEU pay toolkit to help you with specific issues such as securing pay progression, appealing against adverse pay decisions and winning a supportive school pay policy.
-
-
Pay scales 2019-20
The joint union pay scales show the impact of the 2.75% uplift to the teachers’ pay ranges for 2019-20, when applied to the individual pay points.
-
Pay loss calculator
This calculator estimates, using the latest inflation forecasts, the impact on your pay of the 2.75% pay increase for September 2019 announced by the Government on 22 July.
Downloads
Want to get involved or need further assistance?
Your first point of contact for advice and support from the union should be your National Education Union workplace representative.
If you don't know who that is, contact your branch or district. You can get contact details by telling us which local authority you work in: