School teachers and leaders across England are set to receive a 6.5% pay increase over the next two years after the government accepted the recommendations of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body in full.
The announcement confirms a 3.5% pay rise from September 2026, followed by a further 3% increase from September 2027. Since the current government took office, teachers’ salaries will have increased by a cumulative 17%, with the average classroom teacher expected to earn more than £52,800 from September 2026 and over £54,400 from September 2027.
The package is backed by significant public investment, with an additional £1.8 billion being allocated to schools over the next two years to help fund pay awards for teachers and support staff. A further £485 million will also be provided to colleges and further education providers to strengthen recruitment and retention across the sector.
Schools will, however, be expected to absorb the first 1% of each annual pay award through efficiency savings and improved value for money within existing budgets. The government says its Maximising Value for Pupils programme will continue to support schools by helping them reduce costs on services such as energy, recruitment and banking.
Alongside the funding announcement, ministers have introduced tighter controls on academy trust executive pay. From September, academy trusts wishing to advertise executive positions paying more than £174,000 will require government approval. Annual salary increases for senior executives will also be aligned with the pay awards received by classroom teachers, preventing executive salaries from rising at a faster rate.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the agreement provides certainty for schools while recognising the contribution made by teachers.
She said the government was determined to reward teachers for the work they do every day and ensure that investment is directed towards classrooms rather than excessive executive salaries.
The government also highlighted improving recruitment figures across education. More than 4,500 additional teachers have joined secondary schools, special schools and colleges since 2024, representing over 70% of its target to recruit 6,500 additional teachers.
Teacher retention has also improved, with fewer teachers leaving the profession and a 13% increase in people entering teacher training this year, representing the highest level since the pandemic.
What this means for workers
For teachers, the announcement provides greater certainty over future earnings at a time when many continue to face increasing workloads, recruitment pressures and rising living costs.
While the additional funding should help schools implement the pay award, many education leaders will continue to monitor whether efficiency savings are sufficient to meet the government’s expectation that schools fund part of the increases themselves without affecting frontline education.
Support staff may also benefit from the additional funding, although separate negotiations and arrangements will determine individual pay awards across different employers.
The new restrictions on academy executive pay are also likely to be welcomed by many education professionals who have previously questioned significant disparities between senior leadership salaries and classroom teacher pay.
The Workers Union says
The Workers Union welcomes any meaningful investment that improves pay and helps attract and retain skilled education professionals across the UK.
Teachers play a vital role in preparing future generations, and competitive pay is an important part of ensuring schools can continue recruiting and retaining experienced staff. However, pay is only one aspect of improving working life. Workload, wellbeing, staffing levels and access to appropriate resources remain equally important if the education sector is to build a sustainable workforce for the future.
Greater transparency around executive pay and ensuring public funding is directed towards frontline education will also be welcomed by many workers across the sector.
