Teacher Pay Scale

[Yoshi1701]

I'm currently an NQT on M1 pay scale of £22,400 p/a. I've been offered a new job and in their offer letter, it stated I would be on the M2 pay scale getting approximately £24,200 p/a.

My contract came through yesterday and it states my salary will be M2 pay scale of £23,700. This can't be right surely? I've attached a pic of the pay scales.

WIBU to raise this with the relevant person?

Anyone?

I know academies and I think all other schools now set their own pay scales, they no longer have to adhere to a set national scale.
There is also no more automatic pay progression- you don't move up the pay grade unless you fulfil the schools performance management criteria, which again varies from school to school.
I'd ask your school to see a copy of their pay scale.

Unless the school remains under the control of the LA, then academies set their own pay scales.

Most academies track LA scales to avoid missing out on decent staff, so definitely worth an ask.

Regardless of that they sent you an offer with a higher pay rate, it could just be that it's an admin error on the contract. Can you ask?

There are no pay scales anymore.

There's no automatic progression anymore (performance related pay)

There's no pay portability anymore (when you change schools)

... unless it's written into the school's pay policy, but that's up to the individual school.

If the offer letter said in writing you'd be getting £24,200, then absolutely query with the school. Even if they have their own internal pay scale they can't suddenly drop your pay by £500 from the offer without explanation.

Ask because a verbal offer and acceptance is still a contract. They may have quoted the wrong scale and salary thorough so be prepared to negotiate.

Where I am a Governor, the performance related pay progression really does depend on the teacher demonstrating they have met their targets but only one teacher didn't get pay progression via performance but all had 1%. Make sure you gather evidence of your success in meeting your targets as you go through the year. Good luck in your new job.

Thanks, I know pay is linked to performance but that's not the issue. It's a LA school that's becoming an academy in April I think. I don't understand how they can quote an M2 pay of £24200 and then reduce it.

Jobs do this all the time, up to xxxx. If you are worth is ask for it!

I'd go with the 'assume an error' approach.

Dear whoever,
I received a job offer with a quoted pay of M2 approx £X as per national pay scales. My contract states M2 with quoted pay Y, which is significantly different from the offer and national pay scale.

Please can you confirm that my pay will be X as per national pay scales and the original offer and send a revised contract as soon as possible so that we can get everything signed.

Best wishes,
Yoshi

Thank you! Fab letter!