Written question WQ87538

The pay, terms and conditions of employment of teachers across the UK are multifaceted so making direct comparison of such matters can be both complex and subjective. However, comparing only full-time permanent classroom teacher earnings with the 9 English regions and the other UK nations, using data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2021, shows that median Welsh classroom teacher pay ranks third for nursery and primary school teachers (behind London and, marginally, Scotland) and second for secondary school teachers (behind London).

Supply teachers employed directly by schools or local authorities are covered by the same statutory provisions as permanent teachers. Free schools and academies in England are not bound by these statutory provisions and are able to set their own rates of pay, including that of supply teachers. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, supply teachers are included within the statutory terms, with separate provision in Scotland for teachers undertaking short-term roles. Staff employed by agencies are not covered by these provisions.

In Wales, most supply teacher agencies have voluntarily agreed to abide by conditions set out in the NPS Framework Agreement which sets out a minimum daily rate equivalent to M2 of the teachers’ main pay scale for qualified teachers.

There is no minimum rate applied to the private sector in England. Subsequently, the minimum daily rate varies and is frequently lower than in Wales.