The school teachers’ pay review body should consider the “affordability” of its next pay recommendation for teachers, Justine Greening has said, despite being given permission by the Treasury to exceed the public sector pay cap.

The education secretary also said the STRB should consider whether the pay framework should be reformed “to support a clear and compelling career pathway for teachers”, in line with the Department for Education’s wider plan to reform qualified teacher status.

In September, the Treasury wrote to the STRB indicating it would have the “flexibility” to recommend a pay rise for teachers next year which exceeds the 1 per cent public sector pay cap.

Today Ms Greening has written a further letter to the review body, setting its remit.

In her letter, the education secretary says that, while the government had “adopted a more flexible approach to public sector pay”, the last spending review “budgeted for 1 per cent average basic pay awards” and “there will still be a need for pay discipline over the coming years to ensure the affordability of the public service and the sustainability of public sector employment”.

“Review bodies should continue to consider affordability when making their recommendations,” the letter adds.

Ms Greening says that the STRB “should carefully consider the pay award in relation to the early years of a teacher’s career, ensuring it is encouraging high quality entrants to join the profession and supporting their progression within the workforce”. 

“Professional development for teachers is at the heart of our school improvement strategy and the department is currently developing its plans on strengthening career development and QTS.

“These reforms will provide an important opportunity for the STRB to consider what further reforms to the teacher pay framework may be required to support a clear and compelling career pathway for teachers and to support the productivity of the workforce.”