Pay Cut & Future Implications

[OwlBeDamned]

Apologies for any mistakes, only signed up today and not really sure how this works but really need advice, please.

Left teaching to study about 3 yrs ago (always knew returning to teach was likely). Recently had call from a previous school where I was Subject Lead for many years asking if I'd return to help out temporarily while they recruited permanently.

Went in, met new SL, it's all changed since I was there, new subjects, specs, plus extra KS, lots for me to learn but manageable so agreed. Pay not discussed, always been offered my current pay scale previously so didn't think to ask. All admin done, DBS etc but now told that as an academy they can pay what they want, which is M6, a lower scale than I was paid when I left there over a decade ago. (Permanent post advertised as MPS / UPS + TLR and Rec Allowance for right candidate, not intending to apply for this but just incase relevant).

My question is, in accepting this post, albeit temporarily, at this scale and below threshold will my next employer also expect to pay this or at interview can I still state that I'd like and realistically get UPS 3 (obviously assuming I'm the strongest candidate on the day and they want me)? I'm scared to even ask this but could going back to M6 potentially ever mean having to apply to go through threshold again?!

Has anybody else been in this situation? Any input gratefully received, thank you.

(Sorry, just to add, I'm really looking forward to going back, new SL is fantastic and runs a very well organised dept and the pay for the 3 months is not the biggest worry BUT when I look for permanent from Sept it just feels unfair if I'd have to take that cut every month after the threshold hoops I jumped 14 years ago!)

Have you tried to negotiate? They may be able to pay what they like, but you can also choose to work for the rate that you like. They are probably in quite a fix as it's practically impossible to find someone to cover short-term vacancies so aren't exactly in a position to be choosy. At the minimum, tell them you want the recruitment allowance.

If you do need to write on your application form that your last salary was M6, it is possible that a future school will use this as an excuse to pay you less, especially if you went from UPS to M6 at the same school (despite the change in leadership).

The school isn't obliged to pay you on the upper pay scale but any future school will be able to do so if they wish because you have already been assessed as meeting the appropriate standards.

You can absolutely say that you expect to be paid on U3. To give you some hope, a good friend of mine recently returned to the state sector having been teaching in an independent for the last few years.

The new school (an Academy) was happy to pay her on U3 which is where she had been before she went to the independent.

I agree with the pp who suggests negotiating. You have the upper hand here.

I would just add that this isn’t purely because the school is an academy. Pay portability was abolished by Gove in 2013 for all state schools.

Unfortunately from my experience, it seems that most jobs will not pay above M6, despite previous UPS and TLRs, unless you are going into SLT. I think it's a huge scandal and can't understand why it's not more talked about.