MS, Cabinet Minister for
Education and the Welsh Language: Before the end of term, I would
like to update members and our education workforce on the pay
award for teachers and post 16 practitioners in colleges.
When schools return in September, I will consult on a 3.5% pay
award for teachers and school leaders. In light of concerns
raised by partners outside the pay review process, I will also
consult on a 5% increase for unqualified teachers.
I will provide additional funding to local authorities and
schools for this pay award. I will also provide additional
funding to Medr to maintain pay parity for post-16 practitioners
in schools and colleges.
I am also publishing the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body's
(IWPRB) report today. I have
carefully considered the IWPRB recommendation that all salaries
and allowances be increased by 4.25% from September 2026. I have
also received representations that any pay award should be fully
funded.
I am mindful of the difficult financial circumstances affecting
schools and colleges and the implications that unfunded pay
awards would have on budgets and staff numbers. The IWPRB
recommendation is not affordable within existing budgets. In
coming to my decision, I have had to balance the available budget
and recognising and rewarding our workforce.
The report also sets out other recommendations which I will
continue to consider over the summer. In the meantime, I am
pleased to be able to confirm today that I will also consult on
implementing two of the IWPRB's previous recommendations.
- A single pay scale for classroom teachers so that they will
progress up the pay scale and see their pay increase accordingly,
every year.
- Changes to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions (Wales)
Document to ensure leaders' holiday periods and weekends are
protected.
In the future I intend to start the process for considering pay
awards earlier so that they can be agreed and communicated more
promptly.
I will also commit funding to support doubling the current period
for which teachers' get full pay during maternity leave, should
local authorities and unions agree to make this change through
teachers' contracts of employment.
