Teachers will not receive a pay rise next year under chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spending plans.

Making his spending review statement in the House of Commons today, Mr Sunak said public sector pay would be “paused” next year, apart from for doctors and nurses, as well as a further 2.1 million for public sector workers who earn below £24,000 - who will receive a pay rise of at least £250.

That means school support staff, including teaching assistants, caretakers and cleaners will benefit from a pay rise. 

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However, teachers will not see an increase on the 3.1 per cent pay rise awarded this year across the profession.

Pleas for teacher pay rise

Mr Sunak said the coronavirus pandemic had “deepened the disparity” between public and private sector wages and that he could “not justify” an across-the-board public sector pay rise.

On Monday, 18 different unions representing public sector workers, including education unions the NEU, NASUWT and NAHT, wrote to Mr Sunak calling for a pay rise as “a matter of justice” for public sector key workers who have pulled the country through the coronavirus crisis and who have suffered “a decade of lost pay”.

The Treasury confirmed that the government is still committed to setting the teacher starting salary at £30,000 by 2022.