5% SALARY RISE FOR NEW TEACHERS
WELSH Government Minister for Education Kirsty Williams has today confirmed a 5% rise in the starting salary for newly-qualified school teachers in Wales.
In addition, the minimum and maximum of all other teacher pay ranges and allowances will be increased by 2.75%.
This year is the first year in which power over teachers’ pay and conditions have been devolved to Wales.
A review of teacher pay was undertaken by the new Independent Welsh Pay Review Body, which recommended all statutory pay ranges and allowances be increased by 2.4%. In her response, the Minister proposed a higher pay rise for most teachers of 2.75%.
To reduce the impact on local authorities, the Welsh Government will provide £12.8m to support the pay award this financial year.
The pay award follows an eightweek consultation and will be backdated to September 1.
Kirsty Williams said: “I am pleased to announce an uplift of pay to reward our highly skilled and hardworking teachers in Wales.
“Today’s announcement shows the benefit of Welsh Government gaining responsibility for these powers. In setting teachers’ pay for the first time, we have diverged from proposals in England by ensuring that the starting salary for teachers in Wales will be higher.
“This will help to promote teaching as a profession of choice for graduates and career changers. Alongside our reforms to professional learning, the curriculum and initial teacher training, it will help to encourage the highest quality teachers to join the profession here in Wales.”
Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, reacted to the news: “We welcome the 5% rise in the starting salary for newly-qualified teachers, but we are disappointed that other teachers will receive an increase of only 2.75% after years of pay austerity which have eroded the real value of salaries.
“We also welcome the allocation of £12.8m to support this year’s pay award.
“However, we will be seeking clarification over whether this funding is sufficient to cover the cost of the pay award in full and exactly how it will be delivered. It is vital that this money is ring-fenced.”