Teacher Pay Rates

Teaching In The UK

UK teachers are remunerated on the National Pay Spine according to their qualifications and years of service. Australian teachers are assimilated to this scale. A graduate teacher would enter the profession on Spine Point M1 and climb the scale annually to the ceiling point of M6 on the teacher pay scale.

Additional payments are made for managerial and departmental responsibility. Working within the Special Educational Needs sector may also bring additional allowances.

Classroom teachers start on the main pay scale. Teachers working in England and Wales (excluding inner and outer London or the fringe area) are all paid on the England and Wales main pay scale. Teachers working in inner or outer London or the fringe area are paid on separate pay scales, which reflect the higher cost of working and living in London and the surrounding areas. The current pay rates from 1 September 2008 are as follows:

England and Wales Inner London Outer London Fringe
M1 £20,627 £25,000 £24,000 £21,619
M2 £22,259 £26,581 £25,487 £23,248
M3 £24,048 £28,261 £27,065 £25,037
M4 £25,898 £30,047 £28,741 £26,894
M5 £27,939 £32,358 £31,178 £28,931
M6 £30,148 £34,768 £33,554 £31,138

Teachers usually start on M1. But if they have other teaching experience they may start higher up the scale. Schools may also award discretionary points for other relevant experience. Each school’s pay policy should explain how these points are awarded.

Further guidance on UK Teachers’ Pay and Conditions can be found at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/pay.

Teaching in the UK

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Living in the UK

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