Sixth form colleges

Sixth form college teachers' pay for 2021-22

The Staff Side pay claim for 2021-22 proposes the following:

• A significant pay increase for September 2021on all pay points and allowances;
• Resumed discussions leading to the deletion of pay point 1;
• Discussions about discrete additional increases to other pay points and allowances.

This pay claim sets out the position of the Staff Side in relation to sixth form college teachers' pay from September 2021.

Pay for 2020-21

Members in the sixth form colleges sector have voted overwhelmingly to accept the following pay offer:

• A 2.0% pay increase from 1 September 2020, rising to 3.25% from 1 May 2021, on all pay points and allowances.

Pay comparability with teachers in schools has been restored and a pay claim for the year from 1 September 2021 will be submitted during the summer term.

See the sixth form colleges updated pay structure and management ranges.

Information about pay for support staff in sixth form colleges can be found here.

Don't scrap BTEC

Earlier this month, the Department for Education confirmed plans to introduce a twin-track system of A levels and T levels (a new suite of technical qualifications), where most young people pursue one of these qualifications at the age of 16. As a result, funding for most BTEC and other Applied General Qualifications will be removed.

The Department set out its plans following a review of post-16 qualifications at Level 3, despite 86% of respondents disagreeing with the proposals.

In their letter to the Education Secretary, the twelve organisations in the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign say the review ignored the widespread concerns expressed about scrapping BTEC and other Applied General Qualifications and that “Many young people will be adversely affected by this proposal, but disadvantaged students have the most to lose, a conclusion that your Department’s own equalities impact assessment supports”.

We have said that furthering this proposal for a binary offer for students pathways at level 3 in the future is ill conceived and dangerous. Applied General Qualifications like BTECs or Cam Techs are tried and tested qualifications which provide a pathway, for disadvantaged students into employment or higher education. The T level qualifications are new and untested and should not be one of only two options available for students, there must be a third way. 

Useful resources including the national agreement on pay and conditions of service for teachers in sixth form colleges, also known as the Red Book. It includes the new pay and progression framework. Below is also the national agreement on pay and conditions of service for support staff in sixth form colleges, also known as the Lilac Book.