Last updated: 3 July 2026
Quick Answer: What Is the Tes Teacher Pay Rise?
The government has accepted a 3.5% pay increase for teachers and school leaders in England from September 2026. A second increase of 3% will take effect from September 2027.
The government’s multi-year pay deal also provides £1.8 billion in additional school funding across the two years. Schools will, however, be expected to cover the first 1% of each annual award from their existing resources.
At a glance:
| Question | Answer |
| How much is the 2026 rise? | 3.5% |
| When does it begin? | September 2026 |
| What happens in 2027? | A further 3% rise |
| Who is covered? | Teachers and leaders in England under the relevant pay arrangements |
| Is it UK-wide? | No, other UK nations have separate systems |
| Is it fully funded with new money? | No, schools must absorb the first 1% each year |
The two awards should not simply be added together when calculating a future salary. The 2027 increase will normally be applied to the salary already increased in 2026.
What Does the Teacher Pay Announcement Mean?
The announcement confirms the national changes recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body, commonly known as the STRB.
The STRB is an independent body that considers evidence from the government, teaching unions, employers and other education organisations. It then recommends changes to teacher and school-leader pay in England.
Tes reports and analyses these decisions but does not set teacher salaries. The final framework is determined through government decisions, statutory pay documents and employer policies.
For maintained schools, the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document provides the main national framework. Academies have greater freedom to establish their own arrangements, although many choose to follow national pay ranges.
Who Is Covered by the 2026 Teacher Pay Rise?
The award primarily affects teachers and school leaders working in England.
Teachers in Maintained Schools
Local authority-maintained schools generally operate within the national pay and conditions framework. The revised ranges therefore apply to eligible qualified teachers, unqualified teachers and leaders employed under those arrangements.
Teachers Working in Academies
Academy trusts can set their own pay policies because they are not legally required to use every part of the maintained-school framework.
Many academies follow national scales to remain competitive and make recruitment easier. A teacher should nevertheless check the trust’s published pay policy rather than assume that the national award will be implemented in exactly the same way.
Independent-school Teachers
Independent schools establish their own salaries and contractual terms. The national award does not automatically give every independent-school teacher a contractual right to the same increase.
School Leaders and Headteachers
Leadership and headteacher salary ranges are also being uplifted. Actual leadership pay depends on factors such as school size, pupil numbers, responsibilities, location and the employer’s pay policy.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The 3.5% award is an England pay decision. Teacher salaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are negotiated and implemented through their respective national arrangements.
UK readers should therefore check which education system governs their employment before relying on the figures in this guide.
What Are the Teacher Pay Scales for 2026–27?
The published 2026–27 salary guide indicates that a new qualified teacher in England outside London will start on at least £34,068 from September 2026. The equivalent Inner London starting salary may be £41,728.
The following ranges combine relevant main and upper pay scales where applicable:
| Teacher category and location | Indicative 2026–27 range |
| Main and upper ranges outside London | £34,068–£52,834 |
| Inner London | £41,728–£64,683 |
| Outer London | £39,193–£58,119 |
| London fringe | £35,601–£54,326 |
| Leadership range in England | £53,585–£158,862 |
| Headteacher range in England | £60,619–£158,862 |
| Unqualified teachers outside London | £23,731–£36,493 |
The lowest unqualified-teacher pay point outside Inner London is receiving a 5% uplift rather than the standard 3.5%. Other points and most relevant allowances receive the main award.
These figures do not mean every teacher can automatically move to the top of a range. An individual salary depends on the teacher’s existing point, progression decisions, role, region and employer.
Small differences of around £1 may sometimes appear between published tables because percentage increases are rounded.
How Much More Could a Teacher Earn?
A simple gross-pay estimate can be calculated as follows:
Current annual salary × 3.5% = estimated annual increase
For example, consider a classroom teacher earning £40,000 before the September 2026 award:
- Current salary: £40,000
- Gross annual increase: £1,400
- Estimated new salary: £41,400
- Gross monthly equivalent: Approximately £116.67 more
This does not mean the teacher will receive an additional £116.67 in their bank account each month.
The final take-home increase may be reduced by Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, student-loan deductions and other payroll adjustments.
A school leader earning £60,000 would receive a larger cash increase from the same percentage:
- £60,000 × 3.5% = £2,100
- Estimated new gross salary: £62,100
- Gross monthly difference: £175
These examples assume that the percentage is applied directly to the existing salary. Actual payroll calculations may differ where an employee changes pay point, working hours, responsibilities or allowances.
Is Pay Progression Separate From the 3.5% Award?
A national pay award and pay progression are two different things. The national award increases the value of salary ranges or relevant pay points.
Progression involves moving from one pay point to another under an employer’s pay policy. A teacher may receive both the general uplift and progression in the same year, but progression should not be treated as guaranteed.
Schools and trusts may consider appraisal outcomes, professional responsibilities and their own published procedures.
Teachers should check:
- Their current pay point
- The school or trust pay policy
- The progression criteria
- The effective date of any progression decision
- Whether allowances are consolidated or temporary
Length of service alone does not always create an automatic entitlement to move up the scale.
Will Teacher Allowances Increase?
Relevant Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments and special educational needs allowances are expected to increase alongside the main award.
A TLR payment may be awarded where a teacher takes on sustained responsibilities involving teaching and learning beyond those expected of a standard classroom role. SEN allowances may apply where the relevant eligibility conditions are met.
Recruitment, retention or recognition payments are different. These may be discretionary, temporary or non-consolidated, depending on the employer’s policy.
A teacher receiving an allowance should check whether the payment:
- Is permanent or temporary
- Is pensionable
- Is included in the percentage uplift
- Depends on continuing responsibilities
- Ends if the teacher changes role
Is the Tes Teacher Pay Rise Fully Funded?
The award is supported by additional government funding, but schools are still expected to meet part of the cost from existing budgets.
The current pay award report states that schools will receive £700 million in additional funding during 2026–27 and another £1.1 billion in 2027–28. Schools must find the first 1% of the pay rise in both years.
This does not mean teachers receive only part of the announced award. It means the cost is divided between additional government funding and money schools are expected to identify within their budgets.
Teaching unions have raised concerns that absorbing part of the increase could place further pressure on staffing, resources and already constrained school finances.
The government’s position is that the additional investment, combined with efficiency measures and greater budget certainty, will help schools manage the settlement.
Both points can be true, the pay award may benefit teachers while still creating financial challenges for some schools.
What Has Been Confirmed for 2027 and 2028?
The following position should be kept clear.
Confirmed for September 2026
Teachers and leaders covered by the relevant arrangements will receive a 3.5% pay increase.
Confirmed for September 2027
A further 3% increase will apply from September 2027.
For example, a salary of £40,000 would become approximately £41,400 after the 2026 award. A further 3% would take it to approximately £42,642 in 2027, before any progression or other changes.
Indicative for September 2028
The STRB has suggested an indicative 3% increase for 2028–29. However, an indicative recommendation is not the same as a final confirmed award.
Teachers should avoid treating the 2028 figure as guaranteed until the government completes the relevant decision and implementation process.
Common Misunderstandings About the Pay Deal
Every UK Teacher Will Receive 3.5%
This is incorrect. The confirmed award discussed here relates to England. Other UK nations make separate teacher pay decisions.
Every Academy Must Use the National Scales
Academies can establish their own pay arrangements. Many follow the national framework, but employees should check their trust’s policy.
Take-home Pay Will Rise by Exactly 3.5%
The award increases gross salary. The net amount received depends on deductions and personal circumstances.
Every Teacher Will Also Move Up One Pay Point
Progression is separate from the general uplift and depends on the employer’s policy and decision-making process.
The Government is Covering the Entire Cost
Additional funding has been announced, but schools are expected to fund the first 1% of each annual award from existing resources.
The 2028 Pay Rise is Already Confirmed
It is currently indicative. It should not be presented as a guaranteed future award.
What Should Teachers Do Next?
Teachers do not normally need to apply for a national salary uplift, but they should verify how their employer intends to implement it.
Useful steps include:
- Check the current gross salary and pay point on the latest payslip.
- Read the school or academy trust pay policy.
- Confirm whether the employer follows national pay ranges.
- Ask when the revised salary will appear in payroll.
- Check whether any delayed implementation will be backdated.
- Review how the increase may affect pension or student-loan deductions.
- Avoid basing household commitments on gross-pay estimates alone.
Where a salary appears incorrect, the teacher can first raise the issue with payroll, human resources, a line manager or an appropriate union representative.
Key Takeaways
- Teachers and leaders in England will receive 3.5% from September 2026.
- A further 3% increase is confirmed for September 2027.
- The agreement is not a single UK-wide teacher pay award.
- Salary outcomes depend on location, role, pay point and employer.
- Academies and independent schools may use different arrangements.
- Schools must fund the first 1% of each annual award.
- The suggested 2028 increase remains indicative.
Conclusion
The Tes teacher pay rise provides clearer short-term salary expectations for teachers and school leaders in England. The 3.5% increase from September 2026 will be followed by another 3% rise in September 2027.
However, the headline percentage does not tell every teacher exactly what will appear in their bank account. Location, progression, allowances, deductions and employer policies all affect the final result.
Teachers should use official salary information alongside their employer’s pay policy and personal payroll records before making decisions based on the new figures.
FAQs About Tes Teacher Pay Rise
When does the 2026 teacher pay rise start?
The 3.5% increase takes effect from September 2026. The date it first appears in a payslip may depend on the employer’s payroll process, with backdating potentially required where implementation is delayed.
Is the 3.5% teacher pay rise confirmed?
Yes. The government accepted the STRB recommendation for a 3.5% increase in September 2026 and a further 3% increase in September 2027.
Does the award apply to every teacher in the UK?
No. It concerns teacher pay in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate pay frameworks and negotiating arrangements.
Will academy teachers receive the same increase?
Many academy trusts follow national teacher pay ranges, but they have greater freedom to set their own policies. Academy teachers should check their trust’s formal pay policy.
How much extra will a teacher receive each month?
A teacher can multiply the current annual salary by 3.5% and divide the result by 12 for an estimated gross monthly increase. The take-home amount will be lower after relevant deductions.
Can a teacher receive progression as well as the pay award?
Potentially, yes. The national uplift and progression are separate, but movement to another pay point depends on the employer’s policy and progression decision.
Is the award fully funded?
No. The government is providing additional funding, but schools are expected to meet the first 1% of each annual award from existing budgets.
Has the teacher pay rise for 2028 been confirmed?
No. A 3% increase has been suggested on an indicative basis, but it is not yet a final guaranteed award.
Editorial note: This guide provides general information rather than personal financial, tax or employment advice. Teachers should check their contract, employer’s pay policy and official salary documentation before making financial decisions.
