Teacher Pay Scale 25/26 – England and Wales Full Guide
Teachers in England and Wales will receive a 4% pay rise for the 2025/26 academic year, effective from September 2025. The award, recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) and accepted by the UK Government, applies across all pay scales including Main Pay Scale (MPS), Upper Pay Scale (UPS), and leadership positions.
The increase addresses ongoing recruitment and retention challenges amid cost-of-living pressures. While England follows the STRB recommendation, Wales operates under a similar structure with distinct regional variations and automatic progression mechanisms. Scotland and Northern Ireland maintain separate pay arrangements outside the scope of this award.
This guide presents the complete salary scales for qualified and unqualified teachers, including London weighting, Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments, and leadership ranges based on official government documents and union verification.
What is the teacher pay scale 25/26 in England?
Accepted by UK Government for all scales effective September 2025, covering MPS, UPS, and leadership.
M1 starts at £32,916 (rest of England), rising to £45,352 at M6 before reaching upper scales.
Inner London M1 reaches £40,317; Outer London £34,398; Fringe £37,870, reflecting capital living costs.
TLR payments and unqualified teacher scales receive the same 4% uplift across all regions.
- 4% uplift applies universally across MPS, UPS, leadership and TLR allowances
- M1 salary for rest of England set at £32,916, representing the entry point for newly qualified teachers
- Inner London maintains the highest regional premiums, with M6 reaching £52,300
- Upper Pay Scale entry point (UPS1) outside London is £52,219, requiring sustained high performance
- Leadership scale spans £51,771 to £143,795 depending on responsibility level and location
- Unqualified teachers earn between £22,601 and £35,259 outside London
- TLR payments receive the 4% increase though exact 2025/26 values remain school-determined
| Pay Point | England (Excl. London) | Inner London | Outer London |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | £32,916 | £40,317 | £34,398 |
| M2 | £34,823 | £42,234 | £36,373 |
| M3 | £37,101 | £44,238 | £38,627 |
| M4 | £39,556 | £46,339 | £41,075 |
| M5 | £42,057 | £48,952 | £43,545 |
| M6 | £45,352 | £52,300 | £46,839 |
| UPS1 | £52,219 | ~£58,000+ | ~£56,000+ |
| UPS2 | £54,151 | ~£60,000+ | ~£58,000+ |
| UPS3 | £56,154 | ~£62,496 | ~£60,000+ |
What is the teacher pay scale Wales 25/26?
Wales mirrors England’s 4% uplift structure but maintains distinct numerical values and progression rules. The Welsh Government published revised pay and conditions documents in February 2026, confirming the 2025/26 scales.
Upper Pay Scale Structure
On the Upper Pay Scale, Welsh teachers earn between £48,304 (minimum) and £51,942 (maximum), with an intermediate point at £50,095. These figures represent the specific Welsh application of the STRB-inspired award, sitting slightly below English equivalents when comparing outside London regions.
Unlike England, Wales operates an automatic progression system from MPS to UPS. Teachers move to the upper scale without submitting a formal application, subject only to capability checks and performance evidence. This removes administrative barriers while maintaining standards.
Leadership Ranges
Leadership salaries in Wales span from £51,771 to £153,488 across 43 pay points (L1-L43). Headteachers operate within eight distinct groupings, with Group 1 earning £59,597 to £79,288 and Group 8 reaching £102,299 to £146,313.
The Welsh Government provides additional school funding support to accompany the pay award, though specific per-school allocations vary by local authority and pupil numbers.
Unqualified Teachers
Unqualified teachers in Wales start at £22,685 for Year 1, reflecting the same 4% uplift applied to qualified scales.
What is the TLR teacher pay scale?
Teaching and Learning Responsibility Payments
Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) allowances receive the 4% uplift across both TLR1 and TLR2 categories. TLR1 payments, typically exceeding £9,000, apply to substantial curriculum or pastoral responsibilities requiring significant leadership time. TLR2 payments, starting around £3,000, cover specific responsibilities with defined time allocations.
Individual schools determine exact TLR values based on responsibility weight, though the 4% increase applies to the allowance framework. No additional London weighting exists beyond the location-based scales already incorporated into regional pay points.
Regional Application
London teachers receiving TLR payments benefit from the uplift applied to their base location salary, meaning an Inner London teacher on M6 (£52,300) receiving TLR1 would add the enhanced allowance to this higher base figure.
How does the teacher pay scale 25/26 compare to 24/25?
The 2025/26 award represents a uniform 4% increase over 2024/25 levels, affecting every pay point from unqualified teachers through to executive headteachers. This follows the previous year’s structure while addressing inflationary pressures.
Year-on-Year Changes
Main Pay Scale point M1 increased from approximately £31,650 to £32,916 in the rest of England, while M6 rose from roughly £43,600 to £45,352. Upper Pay Scale points saw similar proportional growth, with UPS1 moving from around £50,200 to £52,219.
While the 4% increase applies uniformly, no confirmed side-by-side official tables comparing 2024/25 and 2025/26 values exist in public documents beyond sample calculations. Teachers should verify personal salary statements against current pay documents.
Future Projections
Projections for 2026/27 remain unconfirmed pending the next STRB review cycle. Wales will likely maintain parity with percentage increases while preserving its distinct structural elements.
Those considering career changes or additional income streams during this pay transition might explore Remote Jobs No Experience options to supplement teaching income during the 2025/26 academic year.
How have teacher pay scales evolved from 2023 to 2027?
- : 2023/24 academic year pay scales established baseline figures following previous STRB recommendations.
- : 2024/25 scales implemented with interim uplifts, setting the stage for the current award.
- : STRB formally recommends the 4% pay award for 2025/26, citing recruitment and retention data.
- : 2025/26 scales take effect across England and Wales, applying the 4% uplift to MPS, UPS and leadership.
- : 2026/27 scales remain pending STRB review; no official confirmation available despite previous multi-year projections.
What is confirmed and what remains uncertain about teacher pay 25/26?
Established Facts
- 4% award accepted for England and implemented September 2025
- Specific MPS, UPS and leadership figures published for all regions
- Wales automatic MPS-to-UPS progression procedure active
- TLR allowances included in 4% uplift
- Unqualified teacher scales confirmed at £22,601+ (England) and £22,685 (Wales)
Outstanding Uncertainties
- Exact 2026/27 percentage increases await STRB recommendations
- Specific TLR1/2 monetary values for 25/26 not detailed in public documents
- Final Northern Ireland pay settlement status remains provisional
- Scotland maintains separate bargaining arrangements outside this award
- Individual school TLR allocation criteria vary by institution
What is the UK teacher pay scale overview?
The United Kingdom does not operate a unified national teacher pay system. The STRB recommends scales for England, which often influence Welsh settlements but carry no jurisdiction in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The 2025/26 award specifically addresses England’s statutory pay and conditions, with Wales adopting parallel percentage increases while maintaining distinct administrative procedures.
Financial planning for educators requires understanding these regional disparities. Those monitoring personal finances against the new scales might find resources like Money Supermarket Credit Score useful for assessing how the 4% salary adjustment affects broader credit and lending profiles.
The award responds to documented recruitment shortfalls in key subjects and geographic areas, with London weighting specifically designed to offset capital living costs. Cost-of-living adjustments remain a primary driver of STRB recommendations, though the 4% figure represents a compromise between union demands and fiscal constraints.
What official sources confirm the 2025/26 pay scales?
The School Teachers’ Review Body recommended a 4% pay rise for teachers and leaders in England and Wales for the 2025/26 academic year, accepted by the UK Government for implementation across all main pay scales, upper pay scales, and allowances including TLR payments.
— School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2025, UK Government
Wales mirrors England’s structure with additional school funding support and automatic MPS-to-UPS progression requiring no formal application, subject to capability checks.
— School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Wales Document 2025 (Revised February 2026), Welsh Government
Progression occurs annually on MPS with evidence; UPS requires sustained high performance. TLR allowances receive the 4% uplift with exact values determined by schools based on responsibility weight.
What should teachers know about the 2025/26 pay award?
The 2025/26 academic year brings a confirmed 4% salary increase for teachers in England and Wales, effective September 2025, with starting salaries at £32,916 (rest of England) and £40,317 (Inner London). While England requires applications for UPS progression, Wales operates automatic advancement subject to capability. Teachers should consult official government pay documents for exact TLR values and monitor STRB announcements for 2026/27 projections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the teacher pay scale 26/27?
No confirmed 2026/27 pay scales exist. The STRB has not yet made recommendations for the next academic year, though previous DfE projections suggested 6.5% over three years.
What is the teacher pay scale 23/24?
The 2023/24 scales served as the baseline preceding the current award. Main Pay Scale point M1 was approximately £31,650 for England outside London, with proportional values for other points.
What is the UK teacher pay scale?
No single UK-wide scale exists. England and Wales follow STRB recommendations (4% for 25/26), Scotland negotiates separately through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, and Northern Ireland maintains distinct arrangements.
What is the starting salary for teachers in London 2025/26?
Inner London M1 starts at £40,317. Outer London M1 begins at £34,398, while London Fringe M1 starts at £37,870, all including regional weighting.
Do TLR payments increase with the 2025/26 award?
Yes, TLR1 and TLR2 allowances receive the 4% uplift. However, exact monetary values remain school-determined based on specific responsibility weights.
How does automatic progression work in Wales?
Welsh teachers move automatically from Main to Upper Pay Scale without application, subject to capability checks. England requires formal application and evidence of sustained high performance.
What is the unqualified teacher pay scale 25/26?
Outside London: £22,601–£35,259. London Fringe: £24,066–£36,718. Outer London: £26,789–£39,450. Inner London: £28,343–£40,994. Wales Year 1: £22,685.
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