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Original poster

Do you think teachers are paid too little?

260 replies

Looooop · 03/05/2023 09:46

I've just read an article about a teacher (presumably who wasn't on MP1) who has to take on 2 other jobs to make ends meet.
I'm sure I'll get flamed, but ECTs start on 28k. I and other people live on way less than that, I don't understand why an experienced teacher of a few years should need 2 extra jobs?

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 03/05/2023 10:00

Well would you leave a job if you thought the salary, conditions and pension made it worth your while?

So why do you suppose their are so many teachers leaving the profession?

It's not brain science is it.

JuneShitfield · 03/05/2023 09:58

Education and healthcare are both massively underfunded and underinvested in, from pretty much every angle. They are the two most pressing systematic/societal structures in need of investment just now IMO.

Be wary of anyone trying to pitch teachers and nurses against each other online; it's a well-used diversionary tactic to obfuscate and get people lobbing pointless rocks at each other.

28k is one of those figures that can sound like quite a lot when thrown around out of context.

And sure, some people manage fine on 28k, and there are many people on a lot less.

Doesn't mean that teachers' pay isn't shit, though. And 28k really doesn't go very far in certain places — London and the south east, around Edinburgh, certain parts of Manchester and Birmingham, etc etc. All those places need teachers.

Changingplace · 03/05/2023 09:57

Maybe teachers should be paid more but the salary is completely transparent so everyone knows it before they train.

I had a place to do a PGCE back in the day, but I worked out that taking a year to do it, with loans, to earn less than what I was currently on wasn’t worth it so I didn’t do it.

So I accept teachers should be paid more, but if it’s a surprise to anyone once they’ve already trained then they should’ve done some research beforehand.

thunderandsunshine01 · 03/05/2023 09:55

I don't think they are underpaid. I also don't think their importance of a primary school teacher is comparable to a nurse as PP said.

KimberleyClark · 03/05/2023 09:53

Just like nurses they are not well paid in terms of the importance of the job they do.

Wishthiswasntthecase · 03/05/2023 09:53

Or maybe they work in FE. Starting salary £22k max you can earn as a classroom teacher £32k. I’ve just had a 1% pay rise which takes me into the next pension band so it’s gross £12 a month.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 03/05/2023 09:52

It's quite difficult at the moment to live on a single salary in an expensive area. And they can't all move to cheaper areas as then there'd be no teachers in the Home Counties.

Sirzy · 03/05/2023 09:50

Yes they are paid too little.

and the school budgets are too low.

the combination of the above is leading to massive issues for all children in education which is only going to get worse.

DucksNewburyport · 03/05/2023 09:50

They are paid a lot less (in real terms, i.e. allowing for inflation) than they were a few years ago - more so than other professions who are also striking, such as nurses. So I guess it depends if you think they were overpaid before?

CanOfGerms · 03/05/2023 09:48

Depends.

Location, childcare, rent/mortgage, debt etc.