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Original poster

Teacher salary pro rata?

283 replies

JackSheepskin · 18/04/2023 16:16

So I might be an idiot… but I’ve seen a lot recently about how teachers aren’t paid for the holiday periods, their salary is pro rata and paid equally over 12 months.

Therefore if I saw a job advert for £60k, does that mean you don’t actually get £60k but whatever remains from that salary after the additional 6 weeks holiday is taken off? Or is the salary advertised already pro rata?

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 19/04/2023 22:36

42isthemeaning · 18/04/2023 21:47

Not true. I'm sick and tired of this myth being perpetuated. Believe me private school teachers are often paid LESS than their state counterparts.

Show quote history

It is true that salaries of over 60k are paid. DD is paid well over that as head of department ( not maths/English/science) in a private school. A look at the Charities Commission page for a school ( just google Charities Commission and the name of the school) will show how many are on salaries of 60k plus.

Isitthathardtobekind · 19/04/2023 22:37

The vast majority of ‘teachers’ are not deputy heads of large secondary schools and won’t be anywhere near to 60K. At primary, even the head teacher is very likely to get less than that!

Isitthathardtobekind · 19/04/2023 22:44

42isthemeaning · 18/04/2023 23:21

@Saltired yes it probably does depend on individual schools and as you may already know there is very little transparency in the private sector when it comes to salaries. I just happen to know in my work with the union that many independent school teachers are paid less (I'm talking fully qualified teachers here) and that payment for responsibilities, etc. does not follow a proper scale like in state. I've know of staff to be given a meagre one off payment for being a head of year for a term, for example. Also many private schools have had the TPS taken away (or it's in the pipeline) and the workload is unsustainable. I think many parents would be shocked if they knew how little the teachers were being paid in spite of the hikes in the fees.
It's pretty depressing (and absolutely unacceptable!) to hear of the pitiful rise that's being offered to state school teachers but it's still more than what my school has offered its staff as a pay rise...
Sorry - it's late and I'm tired!

I can second this!

saraclara · 19/04/2023 22:48

I wish people didn't bang on about how pensions are somehow part of our salary. Doesn't do anyone much good if, like my DH, they don't live to see their pension.

People's salaries are what they're paid and get to spend while working. That's it.

Isitthathardtobekind · 19/04/2023 22:50

redbigbananafeet · 18/04/2023 23:06

If you can find me a lead teacher in your local school I'll buy you your playpieces for the rest of the term. In 15 years of teaching I've never met one.

In a school of about 20 class teacher we have 3 PTs, 3 deputes and a head.

The ceiling for most is the £45k.

You are using army for comparison. There is much more promotion opportunities in army. How many years at uni do you need to join the army? 0. We spent 4 years plus a probation year to qualify.

21 years teaching. During my first 2 years, there were lead teachers (Advanced Skills Teachers) at my inner city ‘beacon’ school. I’ve never come across any in any school I’ve worked at since though. 45k is definitely the ceiling in my experience too and that’s for people in senior leadership roles. I’m sure the heads get more, although my husband is one and is on 50k… so not always much more.

saraclara · 19/04/2023 22:51

Isitthathardtobekind · 19/04/2023 22:37

The vast majority of ‘teachers’ are not deputy heads of large secondary schools and won’t be anywhere near to 60K. At primary, even the head teacher is very likely to get less than that!

Yep. I can categorically say that not a single teacher in my large primary special school, earned more than £44k. And the majority under £40, some by a long way.
The head and deputies would have earned more (but didn't teach more than a lesson here and there when absolutely pushed, so I'd call them managers rather than teachers) but still not near £60k.

42isthemeaning · 19/04/2023 23:05

@Pottedpalm I don't doubt that this may be the case for some teachers in some schools but the £60,000 plus salaries you see on the CC website would more often than not belong to the bursars and senior leadership. The majority of teachers in private do not earn such salaries and it's simply incorrect to imply otherwise.

Pottedpalm · 20/04/2023 06:21

42isthemeaning · 19/04/2023 23:05

@Pottedpalm I don't doubt that this may be the case for some teachers in some schools but the £60,000 plus salaries you see on the CC website would more often than not belong to the bursars and senior leadership. The majority of teachers in private do not earn such salaries and it's simply incorrect to imply otherwise.

It is not incorrect to say these salaries can be earned in private schools, no one has said ‘by the majority’. Here is the breakdown for one school whose staffing structure I am familiar with. The top two are indeed head and bursar but the ones between 60-70k are at head of department level. 13 in that range, which is the lowest which has to be declared. There are more in the high 50s who fall just short of reporting level.
This is a day school so figures not skewed by those with boarding responsibilities.
All data freely available.

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