Future pay rises for teachers could vary by the subject and phase they teach.

A summary in today’s School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) report, which recommends a 3.5 per cent pay rise for teachers and school leaders, raises the possibility of abandoning “uniform” pay rises across the profession.

It warns that there is “evidence of a number of persistent issues with the current teachers’ pay and allowance framework”.

It says these will need to be considered “to make sure that the national pay framework provides the optimal structure for recruiting and retaining teachers and supporting their career progression in different school phases and subject specialisms, and in all areas of the country”.

‘Targeted’ teacher pay awards

The report adds: “This next phase may require targeted pay awards, and further uniform uplifts to pay and allowance ranges may not be appropriate in the future.”

The report says the government will give the STRB a remit to “consider further reforms to the teachers’ pay framework to support a clear and compelling career pathway for teachers and improve the productivity of schools”.