With the potential for teacher strikes in England, this article
seeks to explain the latest picture on how teacher pay in England
has changed over time, the state of the teacher labour market and
what is currently happening to school funding.
Salaries for most teachers in England will increase by 5% in
2022–23. With inflation currently running at 10%, this will
amount to a real-terms fall of about 5%. Coming on top of past
real-terms cuts, salaries for more experienced and senior
teachers will have fallen by 13% in real-terms between 2010–11
and 2022–23, which will account for most teachers. Teachers in
the middle of the salary scale have seen smaller cuts of 9-10%
since 2010–11 and starting salaries have fallen by 5% in
real-terms. In contrast, average earnings across the whole
economy is likely to have grown in total by about 2% in
real-terms between 2010–11 and 2022–23.
Given these changes, it is perhaps unsurprising that we see
evidence of the teacher labour market under increasing pressure.
Targets for teacher trainees were missed in 2022–23, with 60% of
the target achieved for secondary school teachers and only 17% of
the target in physics. This is compounded by the fact that such
targets have been consistently missed over time in many maths and
science subjects.
Luke Sibieta, Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal
Studies:
‘With inflation currently running at 10%, most teachers will see
a 5% real-terms fall in their salary this year. Combined with
past real-terms cuts dating back to 2010, more experienced
teachers will have seen a 13% real-terms drop in salaries between
2010 and 2022. Given this, it is perhaps unsurprising that
applications to teacher training have continued to disappoint and
that schools report increasing problems recruiting and retaining
staff.
‘On a more positive note for schools, the additional £2.3 billion
allocated in the 2022 Autumn Statement has improved school
budgets in England. School spending per pupil in England is
expected to return to 2010 levels by 2024. School funding per
pupil is also growing faster than the specific costs faced by
schools, which includes the changes in teacher and support staff
pay, as well as rising energy and food costs.’
Read the briefing in full
here.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
'What has happened to teacher pay in England?' is an IFS
comment by Luke Sibieta
It is available to read on the IFS website: https://ifs.org.uk/articles/what-has-happened-teacher-pay-england
