Staff at Woodlands community school, a 610-pupil secondary serving a post-war council estate in Southampton, won’t be turning down the extra 3.5 per cent. But they don’t believe it is enough to attract good quality recruits.

Headteacher, scale point 26 Gareth Newbury, 46, feels the average 6 per cent rise for heads reflects the extra duties placed on them. But he fears both the differential pay rise and proposals for PRP - which will require him to individually appraise staff - could prove divisive.

“I do have a concern about different pay (increases) for different staff in a school like this, where we work as a team. Anything that interferes with that team spirit is a concern,” he said. He currently earns around pound;39,000. This should rise by 3.5 per cent to pound;40,365 in April and, with the average 1.5 per cent rise for secondary heads, almost pound;41,000 in September.

Classroom teacher, scale point 5 PE teacher Mike Hopwood, 26, says money is important - reflecting the value attached to the job. But more important is reducing the workload.

“Instead of 3.5 per cent, if you could guarantee you were never on a cover lesson and that you could just get on and teach and prepare lessons...there’s so much other business that interferes with that, you end up breaking your back just to survive,” said Mr Hopwood who expects to earn around pound;18,000 from April 1.

Eligible for PRP in 20034 Classroom teacher, scale point 6 Colleague Marian Phillips, 30, a science teacher of two years standing with a PhD and experience of teaching medical students, agrees. She is currently on pound;18,750. “I don’t think 3.5 per cent is enough. If I had chosen to go into industry, I would probably be on around pound;30,000,” she said.

Eligible for PRP in 20023