The teacher pay award for 2026/27 (the academic year starting September 2026) has not yet been confirmed at the time of writing. The Department for Education (DfE) has submitted evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) proposing a 6.5% increase spread across three years (2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29), with the uplift weighted towards the latter two years.

This page sets out the current state of play, the STRB timeline, what the proposal means in cash terms, and how to calculate your actual take-home pay when a figure is confirmed.

💡 Quick note on calculators

Any headline pay rise is a gross figure. Your take-home pay will rise by less, because higher gross pay typically means higher Income Tax, National Insurance and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) contributions. Use a teacher take-home pay calculator to get an accurate net figure.

In this guide

1. What Has Been Proposed for 2026/27?

In October 2025, the DfE submitted its evidence to the STRB recommending a 6.5% cumulative pay increase over three years — covering the 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years. Crucially, the DfE stated the award should be "weighted towards the latter part of the remit", meaning the 2026/27 uplift is likely to be the smallest of the three annual awards.

Based on the DfE's framing, analysts have estimated the first-year increase for 2026/27 could be approximately 1.5%, with larger increases of around 2%–3% following in subsequent years.

⚠️ No confirmed figure yet

The 6.5% figure is a three-year proposal, not a confirmed 2026/27 award. The STRB must first issue its formal recommendation, and the government then issues the final Teacher Pay Order. This page will be updated when a confirmed figure is available.

This is a notable change from previous years: for the first time since 2022, the STRB has been asked to make a multi-year pay award recommendation, covering 2026/27 and 2027/28 with an indicative figure for 2028/29. The aim is to give school leaders greater certainty when planning budgets and staffing.

2. What Was the 2025/26 Pay Award?

For context: in July 2025, the government accepted the STRB's recommendation of a 4% pay award for all teachers and school leaders in England, effective from 1 September 2025. This was a fully funded increase. The median classroom teacher salary for 2025/26 rose to over £51,000 as a result.

The starting salary for a newly qualified teacher on M1 in the Rest of England for 2025/26 is £31,650. In Inner London, this rises to £38,000.

3. The STRB Process: Timeline for 2026/27

The STRB is an independent body that reviews evidence from the DfE, teaching unions, school employers and other stakeholders before issuing a formal recommendation to the Secretary of State for Education. The government then decides whether to accept, modify or reject the recommendation.

Stage Expected timing
DfE submits evidence to STRB October 2025 (completed)
STRB gathers union and employer evidence Autumn/Winter 2025–26
STRB submits recommendation to Secretary of State Expected April 2026
Government response and Teacher Pay Order Expected summer 2026 (June–July)
Pay award effective date 1 September 2026 (academic year start)

4. Affordability: The Gap Between Proposal and Reality

A key tension in the 2026/27 debate is school affordability. DfE modelling indicates that schools may realistically only be able to fund a 2.7% pay rise across the next two years combined, based on projected headroom of around £1 billion — with only approximately £250 million of that headroom falling in 2026/27.

Every additional 1% of teacher pay costs schools approximately £330 million nationally. The DfE has acknowledged this challenge, noting that schools will need to "realise and sustain better value from existing spend" through its new Maximising Value for Schools programme to make the proposed three-year settlement work.

📌 What this means in practice

If schools are only able to absorb around 2.7% across 2026/27 and 2027/28, the final confirmed award for 2026/27 may be considerably smaller than some reports suggest. The 6.5% figure is a three-year cumulative target — not a single-year guarantee.

5. What Research Says: Pay Competitiveness Since 2010

Analysis by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) provides important context for the current debate. Since 2010/11, teacher pay has significantly lost ground against average earnings in the wider economy.

According to NFER, the growth in teachers' starting salaries in real terms has been seven percentage points lower than average earnings growth over the period 2010/11 to 2025/26. For experienced teachers, the gap is even larger: real-terms pay has grown 16 percentage points less than average earnings across the same period.

If teachers' pay had kept pace with average earnings since 2010, NFER calculates that the starting salary would have been £2,500 higher in 2025/26, and experienced teacher pay would have been £9,200 higher.

The NFER analysis also notes that the DfE's 6.5% three-year proposal was calibrated against an earlier OBR earnings forecast of 6.5% over the period. However, the OBR's November 2025 update revised expected average earnings growth upward to approximately 7.4% over the same three years — meaning the DfE proposal, as written, would likely result in a further drift in pay competitiveness rather than recovering it.

6. Union Reactions

Teaching unions have responded critically to the DfE's three-year proposal.

The Tes reported in March 2026 that the proposed 6.5% over three years — specifically the front-loading concern — risks reversing recent gains in recruitment that followed larger awards in 2023 and 2024. Union representatives have argued that a below-inflation first-year award in 2026/27 could undermine the modest improvement in teacher training enrolments seen in 2025, when postgraduate ITT recruitment rose approximately 10% year-on-year.

NFER's position is that the STRB should look at pay awards that match or exceed 7.4% over the three-year period to at least maintain competitiveness — rather than the 6.5% currently proposed by the DfE.

🔎 Key point on union action

If the final award is significantly lower than union expectations, industrial action cannot be ruled out. Most major announcements occur during the summer term, often after teaching union annual conferences.

7. What Does 6.5% Over Three Years Mean in Cash Terms?

If the 6.5% cumulative proposal is eventually confirmed and split approximately as 1.5% / 2% / 3% across the three years, the approximate effect on gross annual salaries would be:

  • £31,650 (M1 Rest of England) → +£475 in year 1 (≈£32,125 from Sept 2026)
  • £40,000 salary → +£600 in year 1
  • £51,000 (median classroom teacher) → +£765 in year 1
  • £60,000 salary → +£900 in year 1

These are illustrative estimates based on the 1.5% assumption for 2026/27. Until the STRB recommendation and government response are published, exact figures are not available.

To see what any confirmed increase means for your monthly take-home pay: Teacher Take-Home Pay Calculator.

8. Why Your Take-Home May Rise by Less Than the Headline %

Even if your gross pay rises by the confirmed percentage, your net pay will typically rise by a smaller amount due to:

  • Income Tax — especially if your pay crosses a threshold (e.g. from basic to higher rate at £50,270)
  • National Insurance contributions
  • Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) — tiered contributions mean a pay rise may push you into a higher contribution band
  • Student loan repayments — a percentage of gross above the relevant threshold
  • Salary sacrifice arrangements (where applicable)

Use our teacher take-home pay calculator to model your specific situation: Teacher Take-Home Pay Calculator.

9. Teacher Pay Scales 2025/26 (Current) with Estimated 2026/27 Gross Figures

The table below shows confirmed 2025/26 gross salaries (following the 4% award) and estimated 2026/27 gross figures based on an illustrative 1.5% first-year uplift. These are estimates only pending the confirmed STRB recommendation and Teacher Pay Order.

Pay Scale Point 2025/26 Gross (£) Est. 2026/27 Gross (£) at +1.5% Est. Monthly Take-Home*
M1 (Rest of England) £31,650 £32,125 £2,150 – £2,250
M3 £35,674 £36,210 £2,350 – £2,450
M6 (top of Main Scale) £43,685 £44,340 £2,750 – £2,900
UPS1 £45,646 £46,330 £2,850 – £3,000
UPS3 (max Upper Pay Scale) £49,084 £49,820 £3,050 – £3,200
M1 Inner London £38,000 £38,570 £2,500 – £2,650
UPS3 Inner London £58,500 £59,375 £3,450 – £3,650
Leadership L1 (min) £49,781 £50,528 £3,100 – £3,250
Leadership L43 (max) £136,054 £138,095 £6,800 – £7,200

*Take-home estimates assume standard TPS contributions and basic-rate tax. Individual results vary — use the Teacher Take-Home Pay Calculator for your exact figures.

For personalised figures:

10. Does This Apply in Scotland and Wales?

The STRB's remit covers maintained schools in England only. Pay arrangements in the other nations are determined separately:

Nation Pay framework 2026/27 position Effective date
England (maintained schools) STRB / Teacher Pay Order Awaiting STRB recommendation and Teacher Pay Order September 2026
Wales Welsh Government (follows STRB broadly) Typically aligned with England; separate announcement September 2026
Scotland SNCT (Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers) Separate negotiation; different pay scales and structure Varies
Northern Ireland Separate framework Separate process; subject to Stormont budget decisions Varies

💡 Academy schools

Academy trusts are not legally required to follow national teacher pay scales, although most choose to do so in practice. If you work in an academy, check your contract or school HR for the pay structure that applies to you.

11. Key Takeaways

  • No confirmed teacher pay award for 2026/27 has been announced yet
  • DfE has proposed 6.5% cumulative over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29)
  • The uplift is weighted towards later years — 2026/27 may be as low as ~1.5%
  • STRB recommendation expected around April 2026; Teacher Pay Order likely summer 2026
  • Any confirmed award applies from 1 September 2026 for maintained school teachers in England
  • NFER analysis suggests the DfE proposal risks further erosion of pay competitiveness
  • Unions have warned the proposal could reverse recent gains in teacher recruitment
  • Every 1% increase in teacher pay costs schools approximately £330m nationally
  • 2025/26 confirmed award was 4%, effective from September 2025

12. Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 6.5% teacher pay rise confirmed for 2026/27?

No. The 6.5% is a three-year cumulative proposal made by the DfE in its evidence to the STRB — not a confirmed figure. The STRB must publish its formal recommendation first, after which the government will issue the final Teacher Pay Order. This is likely to happen in summer 2026.

When will I know my actual pay for September 2026?

The STRB recommendation is expected around April 2026. The government's response and final Teacher Pay Order is typically issued between June and July, ahead of the September academic year start.

What was the teacher pay rise for 2025/26?

The government accepted the STRB's recommendation of a 4% pay award for 2025/26, effective from 1 September 2025. This was fully funded by the government.

Does this apply to support staff?

No. Support staff pay is negotiated separately through the NJC (National Joint Council for Local Government Services). A separate pay process applies to teaching assistants, administrators and other school support staff.

Will my take-home pay increase by the full headline percentage?

No — because higher gross pay typically leads to higher tax, National Insurance and Teachers' Pension contributions. Use the Teacher Take-Home Pay Calculator to model your specific situation accurately.

Do academy schools have to follow the pay award?

Academy trusts are not legally bound by the STRB Teacher Pay Order. However, most choose to follow national pay scales in practice. Check with your school's HR team or your contract for details.

13. Summary

The 2026/27 teacher pay award is still to be formally confirmed. The DfE has proposed a 6.5% increase over three years, heavily back-weighted so that the 2026/27 uplift may be relatively modest. Research from NFER and pressure from unions suggest the final award — whatever it is — will remain a contested topic for school leaders, teachers and the government throughout 2026.

When a confirmed figure is announced, we will update this page. In the meantime, you can model your updated net pay using our teacher calculators:

Teacher Take-Home Pay · Teacher Salary to Hourly · Teacher Hourly to Salary · Teacher Monthly to Hourly.