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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Independent school teacher forced to leave due to pay cut.

114 replies

Pensionworries · 14/02/2024 20:43

I left the state sector to teach in an independent school a few years ago and I have loved how much more freedom I have had to be creative and really be the teacher I’ve always wanted to be. Having smaller class sizes has meant I get amazing job satisfaction from meeting the children’s individual needs. My colleagues are lovely and it’s a beautiful, friendly environment to work in.

But… recently us teachers were told by the governors that the school, like many independent schools, is not able to keep up with the Teacher Pension Scheme contributions so all teachers are now encouraged to either go to a different scheme (all are rubbish compared to the TPS) or take a 10% pay cut in order to pay in to it ourselves. There’s a hike in April and apparently another 5% hike due later in the year. Thanks government. 😔

I was happy-ish to take the hit now and maintain my TPS pension but, because my pension is based on my average earnings over the course of my career, I can’t really justify staying somewhere where I’m about to lose £5K a year plus take a hard hit on my pension just because I’m happy there.

I feel like it’s taken me years to find a school that I’m really happy working in and now it’s all been taken away in the blink of an eye. I’m gutted. 😞

It’s pretty galling that the school is also currently having a new swimming pool and equestrian facility built, ‘to attract new customers’, whilst I’m pulling 12 hour days and set to lose so much money. It feels like a real kick in the teeth.

Aside from asking for a pay-rise, I can’t think of any other way to go other than to leave.

I’m already worrying about awful academy chain schools run by toxic managers, under managers, executive managers and so on. I’m a good teacher and work extremely hard. Is it too much to ask to commit to a good school and be rewarded financially for my skills and hard work?

OP posts:
Fergie51 · 14/02/2024 21:18

Many independent schools pay less than the state sector, but offer a wide curriculum, smaller classes, engaged pupils and pleasant surroundings.
I took quite a pay cut to move from a state school. The school day was longer and all staff were on a rota for a Saturday boarding duty. I remained in the independent sector until retirement and never regretted the move despite the loss in earnings.

rwalker · 14/02/2024 21:19

Big pension needs big contributions up to you

topcat2014 · 14/02/2024 21:20

OP, the whole workforce outside of the public sector generally get a few percent employers contribution.

We are all free agents and can choose to work where we want.

I wish you the best, if course.

Tupeytupe · 14/02/2024 21:25

People should probably remember that the contributions aren't funding OP's eventual pension, but rather current retired teachers. The TPS is an unfunded scheme which is I believe in massive deficit. It doesn't make a difference to OP whether her employer has to pay in 5% or 28% - the pension she receives at retirement age would still be the same. IF it still exists when she needs it!

Rocksonabeach · 14/02/2024 21:26

I work in an indie school. I work longer hours and took a £10 K pay cut to work there we have a 10% pay cut next year if you want to stay in the TPS. So at that point I’m leaving - I won’t struggle to get a job in a state school - on UPS 3 and with my pension back - I’ll also probably be able to get an R and R due to my skill set - so I will last it out for 8 years in a state school very local and then retire. At least 6 people are leaving this year - when we leave the TPS they are going to struggle massively to recruit.

SoLuckyToHaveYou · 14/02/2024 21:27

The pension changes are being introduced into more & more private schools OP. As an ex-teacher I’m sympathetic to other teachers being screwed over. But private schools deviate from state in so many ways - not always for the good - so you have to go with what means most to you. I’ve applied to ‘successful’ private schools where a teacher’s salary is capped at main scale and where teachers were expected to attend Saturday swimming galas. With apologies to L P Hartley, private schools are a foreign country. They do things differently there.

BTW, I’ve never got the VAT for private schools, as parents who pay to send their kids to private are already saving the tax payer a bit. Income tax would inevitably have to rise to fund all the state places when parents can no longer afford to send kids to private schools. Oh wait – the Labour party are still expecting people to send their kids to private schools in the same numbers aren’t they?

Rocksonabeach · 14/02/2024 21:27

Oh and there will not be a TPS on ten years time - but I will be out of it and retired by then

Spendonsend · 14/02/2024 21:29

Im not sure i quite undrrstand. I wouldnt expect it to affect your career average earnings as i would think that is based on your gross income. Your 'pay cut' shouldnt be an actual reduction on your gross salary, but that you are now contributing an extra 10 percent to the TPS so you have less net pay. (Which is still crap for you but different) Or did they actually cut your gross pay and maintain paying the full employer contribution from a lower salary?

As for facilities - this is very tricky. Schools do have to attract customers. They can often borrow from the bank for capital projects as long as they can service the debt but the bank wouldnt lend for salaries - theyd expect that to be covered out of fee income or your school isnt really viable if it cant pay its wages without a loan.

SecondUsername4me · 14/02/2024 21:29

What % do you currently pay in and what is the new %?

Is a defined contribution pension or a defined benefit?

Beryls · 14/02/2024 21:33

Rocksonabeach · 14/02/2024 21:26

I work in an indie school. I work longer hours and took a £10 K pay cut to work there we have a 10% pay cut next year if you want to stay in the TPS. So at that point I’m leaving - I won’t struggle to get a job in a state school - on UPS 3 and with my pension back - I’ll also probably be able to get an R and R due to my skill set - so I will last it out for 8 years in a state school very local and then retire. At least 6 people are leaving this year - when we leave the TPS they are going to struggle massively to recruit.

I hope you don't struggle of course, but it might not be as easy as you think to walk into a state school job on UPS3. The budgets are so tight now that jobs are usually advertised with a limit to M6.

Pythag · 14/02/2024 21:33

Pensionworries · 14/02/2024 20:43

I left the state sector to teach in an independent school a few years ago and I have loved how much more freedom I have had to be creative and really be the teacher I’ve always wanted to be. Having smaller class sizes has meant I get amazing job satisfaction from meeting the children’s individual needs. My colleagues are lovely and it’s a beautiful, friendly environment to work in.

But… recently us teachers were told by the governors that the school, like many independent schools, is not able to keep up with the Teacher Pension Scheme contributions so all teachers are now encouraged to either go to a different scheme (all are rubbish compared to the TPS) or take a 10% pay cut in order to pay in to it ourselves. There’s a hike in April and apparently another 5% hike due later in the year. Thanks government. 😔

I was happy-ish to take the hit now and maintain my TPS pension but, because my pension is based on my average earnings over the course of my career, I can’t really justify staying somewhere where I’m about to lose £5K a year plus take a hard hit on my pension just because I’m happy there.

I feel like it’s taken me years to find a school that I’m really happy working in and now it’s all been taken away in the blink of an eye. I’m gutted. 😞

It’s pretty galling that the school is also currently having a new swimming pool and equestrian facility built, ‘to attract new customers’, whilst I’m pulling 12 hour days and set to lose so much money. It feels like a real kick in the teeth.

Aside from asking for a pay-rise, I can’t think of any other way to go other than to leave.

I’m already worrying about awful academy chain schools run by toxic managers, under managers, executive managers and so on. I’m a good teacher and work extremely hard. Is it too much to ask to commit to a good school and be rewarded financially for my skills and hard work?

You don’t have to work at an awful academy chain school. I work in a grammar school which is an academy but there are no toxic managers etc! And the kids are great! There are lots of excellent schools in the state sector: choose wisely!

Purplecatshopaholic · 14/02/2024 21:33

It is upsetting when something changes and you realise you are likely going to have to leave a job you love. Has happened to me (different reasons), and it was gutting. However, there is always a choice - stay or go. Weigh up the pros and cons.

Baircasolly · 14/02/2024 21:35

Rocksonabeach · 14/02/2024 21:26

I work in an indie school. I work longer hours and took a £10 K pay cut to work there we have a 10% pay cut next year if you want to stay in the TPS. So at that point I’m leaving - I won’t struggle to get a job in a state school - on UPS 3 and with my pension back - I’ll also probably be able to get an R and R due to my skill set - so I will last it out for 8 years in a state school very local and then retire. At least 6 people are leaving this year - when we leave the TPS they are going to struggle massively to recruit.

Sorry to derail slightly. I only worked 5 years in a state school before I moved to the independent sector, so I never went through threshold. I'm currently HOD at a fairly big independent school (1000 kids). If I were to apply for HOD at a state school now (12 years' teaching, experience, 5 state, 7 independent) would I automatically be put on UPS do you know? Shortage subject, if that makes a difference.

ETA: @Beryls it sounds like you might know the answer to this question?!

SoLuckyToHaveYou · 14/02/2024 21:38

I don’t think you could automatically assume that you would be put on UPS. It is supposed to be applied for.

Baircasolly · 14/02/2024 21:42

SoLuckyToHaveYou · 14/02/2024 21:38

I don’t think you could automatically assume that you would be put on UPS. It is supposed to be applied for.

Thanks. I thought I'd been told at one point that you had to have gone through threshold and be on UPS in order to be given a HOD role, but it sounds like I might have misunderstood that one.

DragonCatcher · 14/02/2024 21:56

@Baircasolly anyone can be a HoD in a state school. UPS is not a requirement.

Usually, you'd be allocated a pay scale based on your current salary before any TLR payments. If your salary is closest to M4 then that's what you would be given, unless you can negotiate well.

Tinkerbyebye · 14/02/2024 22:00

What’s the government got to do with it? They have chosen to build a swimming pool etc rather than pay staff is it’s the school that’s the issue

spirit20 · 14/02/2024 22:15

It's a well known fact at this stage that lots of independent schools have left or are currently planning to leave the TPS. I do think it'll impact their ability to recruit staff, as that will put a lot of teachers from the state sector off applying for them. A local independent school announced two years ago that they were leaving it and consequently had a mass exodus of staff, including some who joined my state school.

I do worry about the future of the TPS ,even for those of us in state schools though, and if they'll actually pay out the money once I'm actually old enough to take it.

jcyclops · 14/02/2024 22:18

Just for background the TPS is managed by DofE and administered by Crapita (shortly to be Tata). A teacher on £32,000 currently pays 7.4% employee contributions to TPS (£2,368).

The employer pays 23.68% (includes 0.08% for the administrators) ie £7,577.60
This 23.68% is increasing to 28.68% from April making the total £9177.60
This is on top of £3160.20 employers NI.
So the £32,000 teacher will cost the school £44,337.80

It is not surprising that independent schools want to cut staff costs.

Milkandnosugarplease · 14/02/2024 22:26

TPS is unaffordable for independent and state schools. Independent schools have the option of leaving and offering alternatives. At my school there is the option of staying in TPS but in effect take a pay cut to fund it or take the offer of an alternative with Royal London.

We are not a large school and have spent money on a lovely new learning resource centre and drama suite. We are currently full for September 2024, of course that may change if VAT is placed on fees.

I fear that teaching in independent schools will become the preserve of those who can ‘afford’ it

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/02/2024 22:42

Rocksonabeach · 14/02/2024 21:27

Oh and there will not be a TPS on ten years time - but I will be out of it and retired by then

How else will they attract teachers? Lots go into it for the pension.

Dixiechickonhols · 14/02/2024 22:42

It’s same with any profession though? Salaries and packages vary and you choose what suits you.
If salary or pension package is no longer suiting you then look to move to a different school.
The school can presumably still attract staff at lower salary package as there are so many fed up teachers - if you are in a horrible state school about to crack and resign then earning a bit money teaching 15/20 well behaved children is attractive.
If you stay put and are wanting to make up difference to put in pension then you could pick some work up in 15 weeks hols eg tutoring or holiday childcare.

Mammyloveswine · 14/02/2024 22:49

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 14/02/2024 21:05

I think it's your choice to work in the private sector, so you have to accept the pros and cons that go along with that.

My priority is the salaries, pensions and working conditions of the hardworking teachers who stay in the state sector, despite the many challenges. If there are some perks like pensions that help to keep them there, that's brilliant.

👏

Education should be truly universal.. private schools should be abolished imo. It's not better teachers that children get, it's smaller class sizes and no true diversity..

Letsgetouttahere2023 · 14/02/2024 22:51

Sounds like your pension has been insanely good

Parents aren't bottomless pits

Barrenfieldoffucks · 14/02/2024 22:51

Fergie51 · 14/02/2024 21:18

Many independent schools pay less than the state sector, but offer a wide curriculum, smaller classes, engaged pupils and pleasant surroundings.
I took quite a pay cut to move from a state school. The school day was longer and all staff were on a rota for a Saturday boarding duty. I remained in the independent sector until retirement and never regretted the move despite the loss in earnings.

The OP indicates she is on around £50k, to be on more than that in the state sector she'd be fairly well up SLT.