Payscale and years teaching?

[Ella1980]

I'm still on MPS6 and have been teaching for almost 15 years! 12 of those in a tiny school and I also worked very part-time following 2 x maternity leaves to have my two sons.

If it's not too nosey a question, how long have you been teaching and what pay scale are you on?

I'm looking for a new job and I think my rubbish pay scale is messing up my chances 😢

[cathay123]

I have been teaching for about 16 years and still on MPS6. I applied for UPS once in a previous school and the head found all sorts of reasons not to let me go up. Since then I've not been confident enough to apply. I also struggle to cope with the extra responsibilities I have currently and wouldn't be able to do anymore. Now I'm envious of those in secondary who seem to be able to move up more easily.

[Shadowboy]

This is my 12th year and I’m upper 3. Highest pay scale point before leadership. I got upper3 in my 9th year I think. I now have a TLR.

[Ella1980]

Thanks all. I've applied for about 12 teaching jobs but not even getting shortlisted so having to look for something else. Almost certain it is to do with budget in schools atm.

[Pluginwall]

Was talking to a Secondary teacher friend who's on UPS3, and we both agreed there is a disparity between UPS payments in Primary and Secondary

Definitely- I am UPS 3 and moved from Primary to Secondary. I have a management point for anything I do beyond basic classroom teaching. I would not go back to primary - the expectations are ridiculous and unsustainable long term.

[Clammyclam]

Been teaching 13 years
Had 2 years Maternity
Been on UPS3 for about 3 years

[Ella1980]

Thanks all, I've stated on my most recent application about it being a tiny village school with a decreasing intake. Despite many years of dedicated service they reduced my hours considerably which they knew I couldn't afford as a lone parent and then basically readvertised a very similar post a few months after I'd left. Took on an NQT who lasted a year.

[user1471530109]

Op, I'd put in your application the reason why. If I was reading your application, it would be a question I'd instantly have! I'm angry on your behalf.

I'm on UPS 3 and have been for past 4-5 years. Been teaching around 16 years.

[Ella1980]

@superram I dream of one day leaving teaching! What are you changing to doing work wise ? 😊

[ladyvimes]

M6 12 years but part time for 8 of them! Don’t want to take on extra work st the moment whilst my children are little. Also on a permanent part-time contract which are like hen’s teeth in Primary so didn’t want to rock the boat.

[AnduinsGirl]

11 years, L11 - I sympathise with the small school situation though - it's exactly why I moved on. :(

[superram]

I’ve been teaching 15 years and despite being on ups 1 after 4 years I’m still in ups 2. You need 2 years of passing professional targets and maternity leave and change if schools mean I haven’t. Leaving teaching at easter so not too worried.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

'Burgundy Book' sets out the conditions of service for teachers. The STPCD sets out pay and things like working time. Pay spines were abolished quite some years ago.

[qumquat]

That's terrible! Maternity leave should not affect pay progression, that's sex discrimination and illegal. I'm not sure of the impact of part time on the official guidance. I worked 4 days a week for 3 years and still progressed each year. I've been teaching 9 years with 1 mat leave and I'm on UPS2. Applying for UPS was just filling in a form and providing evidence, just like filling in a job application. Is your school an academy? If not they should be following the standard pay scales. (Burgundy book I think it's called?). If they're not progressing you they should tell you the reasons why, ie how can you improve your teaching to go through threshold? Budget isn't an acceptable reason.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I taught 4 years (left the sector part way into 5th) and I was on UPS1 when I quit. Pay scales technically don't exist, so negotiate!

[RobertSmithdoesmyhair]

I'm was still on MPS6 after 15 years because I didn't want the extra work/hassle/meetings and I'm not a good hoop-jumper. Some might have called me lazy and unambitious.. they were probably right! Then I left teaching!

[thebookeatinggirl]

Was talking to a Secondary teacher friend who's on UPS3, and we both agreed there is a disparity between UPS payments in Primary and Secondary.

She is a still 'just' a teacher, no additional responsibilities as such (not a deputy HOD, not 'leading' on anything), simply a good experienced 'highly competent' teacher, doing her normal teaching job and there are many more in her large Secondary. The only difference is that she is sometimes asked to take on trickier classes and more exam year groups.

Yet in my experience UPS payments in Primary, especially UPS3 come with a shed load of additional responsibilities, often roles which a few years ago would have been SLT's remit, which lead to hugely increased workload and working hours, especially in smaller Primaries where your workload is already increased (no partner class to share planning with, everyone expected to co-ordinate subjects, very few, if any TLR payment roles).

I know many experienced Primary teachers who have dropped their UPS wage and got back down onto M6 because the workload at UPS and the expectations of 'significant and sustained contributions' are interpreted so highly in new Primary pay policies.

What do you think?

[shopaholic85]

12 years (one mat leave) and on UPS3

[C0untDucku1a]

Ive been teaching for 16 years and been on ups3 for 6.

[fruityb]

Threshold application the head gave me - he was really keen for us to do it!

I’m moving from one academy to another but they’ve kept the same pay scales. He’s paying me ups3 so I’m happy.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t go for it - surely a school can’t say “sorry we can’t afford that” when you’re just following the scale and performance management? What’s the incentive otherwise?

I did wonder when I applied for the job I’m starting in September whether I would be too expensive but seems they took on two of us at the top end 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Practicallyperfectwithprosecco]

Can I ask what you had to do to apply for UPS? I'm currently mp6 and want to move up

[Holidayshopping]

I would have thought you were in a better situation on the MPS as you’re cheaper! Pay portability was scrapped in 2014 anyway, so heads can/will try to pay you what they want.

[2dogsandPG]

They do ask, but you're not legally obliged to fill it in. I haven't been questioned about it since choosing not to put it on forms.

[fruityb]

They do ask your pay scale - the one I did a couple of weeks ago certainly did anyway. They should pay you what you’re worth surely!

[Ella1980]

Teaching application forms nearly always specifically ask for your current Teacher Pay Scale though?

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Surely this works both ways though. Maybe people would be surprised at your pay scale, but it will mean opportunities are open to you which you'd be too expensive for otherwise? What have you been applying for?