pay

How can I request a job reference from my school?

If you have accepted a job offer to work at a different school or workplace your new employer will make a request for a reference. In the vast majority of cases there is nothing to be concerned about and your reference should highlight your successes in the classroom.

Pay portability for teachers

Pay portability was a term to describe your current salary transferring with you when you started a new role at a different school. Since September 2013, there is no longer pay portability for appointments in maintained schools in England and Wales.

Performance-related pay for teachers

Pay progression for all teachers now depends on appraisal outcomes and meeting standards set by schools. Decisions about teachers’ pay progression are now linked to performance.

Private tuition as a teacher

You may already provide private tuition or are looking into offering private tuition while employed by your school. Many teachers already do this. It could be an effective way to supplement your income or to teach another subject you are passionate about by offering music tuition or sports coaching. In this article, we outline factors to consider when offering private tuition and how to anticipate any difficulties you might encounter with your school.

School Strike action

Teachers at your school might be about to go on strike and you might be unsure of what to do. In this article, we answer frequently asked questions about striking, what your entitlements are and provide definitions for different terminology.

Selling teaching resources

Selling teaching resources online might be a side-hustle you enjoy doing. This article outlines aspects to consider when selling teaching resources and how to tackle potential issues which could arise from your school.

Support Staff: Pay

The key difference between support staff pay and teaching staff pay is that teachers have Directed Time hours for their annual salary (plus the additional time to complete their role).

Suspended from school

You may be suspended from your school when you are being investigated for a disciplinary issue. You should normally be paid during this period and you should be told why you have been suspended. However, in some rare cases you may be suspended without pay if your employment contract says that this can happen.

Teacher pay scales

This article provides an overview of teacher pay scales in England for 2024/25. If you teach in a maintained school in England, you will be paid accordingly to a nationally agreed teacher pay scale. If you teach in an academy, free school or independent school, your pay will be set according to your school’s pay policy.

Teachers’ Pensions

Teachers’ Pensions is the organisation responsible for administering the scheme on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE). You can sign up as soon as you start teaching and receive a Teachers’ Pension number.

Teaching abroad

You may be interested in teaching abroad, it can be an effective way to immerse yourself in a different culture, broaden your teaching practice and to travel the world. As a qualified teacher from the UK you will be bringing many skills and experiences which international schools will value.

What are my employment rights as a part-time teacher?

As a part-time member of teaching staff you should be aware of your employment rights. Part-time working can be a good way of balancing work and personal commitments and you should not be penalised for working part-time at your school.

What are my rights when faced with redundancy at school?

You may be aware of colleagues who have been made redundant at your school or are going through the redundancy process yourself. There are a number of reasons why you could be made redundant and you should be reassured that it is not an uncommon process. In this article, we outline how you can be selected for redundancy, how to appeal a redundancy decision and what rights you are entitled to if being made redundant.

What can it be like teaching at a private school?

There are around 2,500 independent schools in the UK. You may be interested to move from a state school into a private school because of the perceived benefits. There may be some preconceived ideas about teaching in private schools and you could have heard conflicting stories from colleagues.

What do I need to know about TUPE?

You might be concerned about your employment rights if your school is converting to academy status. TUPE is a process designed to protect employees against unfair treatment as a result of a transfer of their employment. It is a common process and many thousands of school employees have gone through the TUPE process.

What does a teacher reference from school look like?

We frequently get asked questions about what a school reference looks like. We look at a few practical examples in this article.

What happens during a professional conduct panel hearing?

You may be invited to attend a professional conduct panel hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) if you have been alleged of serious misconduct at your school. This will most likely be a very distressing time and you might be unsure of what professional conduct panels actually are. This article outlines what you can expect at a professional conduct panel and where you can look for additional information on this topic.

When do I have to hand in my notice at school?

If you are thinking about moving on from your school you will have to provide your notice in advance. It is advisable to check your employment contract to find out if it includes specific details on the procedures to follow.