Starting salary for new teachers to rise in Wales

Starting salaries for newly qualified school teachers in Wales will rise by five per cent, while the minimum and maximum of all other teacher pay ranges and allowances will be increased by 2.75%.

This year is the first year 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%.

The Review Body also recommended an uplift to the minimum pay point on the teachers’ main pay range by 5%, which the Minister accepted.

The Welsh Government will provide £12.8 million to support the pay award this financial year. The pay award follows an eight-week consultation and will be backdated to 1 September 2019.

Kirsty Williams said: "I am pleased to announce an uplift of pay to reward our highly skilled and hardworking teachers in Wales.

"This 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."