When do I get paid until if I resign?

Where your contract follows the Burgundy Book resignation provisions, the usual notice dates and end-of-contract dates are: 31 October: for 31 December. 28/29 February: for 30 April. 31 May: for 31 August. Check your own contract and school conditions, especially if you work in an academy.

Teacher Pay Guide

Teacher Pay Explained: Bands, Progression & Allowances

Q: When is teacher pay reviewed?

Teacher pay scales are reviewed annually. The STRB (School Teachers' Review Body) makes recommendations to the government in the summer. The government then publishes the final 'School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document' (STPCD). Any changes usually come into effect on September 1st (backdated if the decision is delayed).

Q: Why is the pay year different from the tax year?

The school pay year runs from 1 September to 31 August , while the UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April . Schools make progression decisions under their own pay policies; moving up a pay point is not automatic. Changes to tax, National Insurance or pension thresholds can affect take-home pay in April even when gross pay is unchanged.

Understand how teacher pay works in England, from M1–M6 and UPS1–UPS3 to regional pay areas, annual progression, allowances and take-home pay. For current salaries, explore our dedicated 2026/27 pay tables.

View 2026/27 Teacher Pay Scales Teacher Pay Map (England)

How Teacher Pay Bands Work in England

The teacher pay scale in England starts with the Main Pay Range (M1–M6), followed by the Upper Pay Range (UPS1–UPS3). Separate pay ranges also apply to leadership, lead practitioners and unqualified teachers.

Pay varies by region, with different salary figures for the Rest of England, London Fringe, Outer London and Inner London. The pay points shown are commonly used advisory points within national ranges. For exact figures, compare the 2026/27 teacher pay scales by region, then use the pay calculator to estimate your take-home income.

Current: 2026/27

2026/27 Teacher Pay at a Glance

The Government accepted a 3.5% teacher pay award from September 2026. Published 2026/27 advisory salaries in the Rest of England include £34,069 at M1, £46,940 at M6 and £52,835 at UPS3. London and Fringe salary figures differ.

View Full 2026/27 Pay Tables Calculate Take-Home Pay

M1£34,069

M6£46,940

UPS3£52,835

Rest of England, full-time annual salary.

Calculate Your Pay

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Qualified

Main & Upper Pay Ranges

Main & Upper

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Leadership

Head, Deputy & Assistant

Head & Deputy

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Unqualified

Trainees & Instructors

How Teacher Pay Works

National Pay Ranges

The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) sets the statutory framework for maintained schools in England. The familiar M and UPS points are advisory points within national ranges:

Main Pay Range (M1–M6): Standard scale for classroom teachers. Compare its highest advisory point in our M6 salary and London pay guide.
Upper Pay Range (UPS1–UPS3): For post-threshold teachers.
Leadership Range: For Headteachers, Deputies, and Assistant Heads.
Leading Practitioner Range: For specialist teaching and coaching roles.
Unqualified Teacher Range: For eligible staff without qualified teacher status.

Regional Area Bands

To account for living costs, the DfE defines four payment areas nationally. Your location determines the "Area Cost Adjustment":

Inner London: Highest pay band (central boroughs).
Outer London: Greater London boroughs.
London Fringe: Districts in Surrey, Kent, Essex, Herts.
Rest of England: Standard national rate.

Pay Progression & School Policies

Since September 2024, performance-related pay has no longer been a national requirement in England. Individual schools still make pay decisions under their published pay policies.

Annual review: Schools normally make pay decisions annually.
School policy: Progression arrangements and criteria depend on the employer's policy.
Upper Pay Range: Moving from the main to the upper range is not automatic and requires the relevant assessment.

Compare the upper range's top point in our UPS3 teacher salary, progression and part-time guide.

Allowances

Statutory allowances boost gross pay for specific roles:

TLR (Teaching & Learning Responsibility): Payments (Tier 1, 2, or 3) for responsibilities.
SEN Allowances: For teachers in special schools or SEN roles.
R&R: Incentives for recruitment and retention.

Understanding Your Contract & Take Home Pay

The STPCD vs. "The Burgundy Book"

The STPCD sets the national framework for pay and conditions in maintained schools, including directed time for most classroom teachers. The Burgundy Book covers conditions such as sick pay and notice periods where those terms apply to your contract.

Common Deductions

Teacher salaries are published as Gross Pay. Your Net Pay is lower due to:

Teachers' Pension (TPS): Tiered contributions based on pensionable pay.
Income Tax & NI: Calculated via PAYE.
Student Loans: Plan 1, 2, or 5 deductions.

Part-Time & Pro-Rata Pay

Part-time teachers are normally paid pro-rata based on their agreed full-time equivalent (FTE). For example, a 0.6 FTE contract generally means 60% of the full-time base salary before any additional allowances or deductions.

Higher Responsibility

Leadership Range

L1 – L43

Headteachers, Deputies, Assistant Heads

Upper Pay Range

UPS1 – UPS3

Experienced Teachers, Subject Leads

Main Pay Range

M1 – M6

ECTs, Qualified Classroom Teachers

Unqualified Range

1 – 6

Trainees, Instructors

Entry Level

Allowances & Extra Payments

Separate payments for specific responsibilities.

TLR 1 & 2

Sustained responsibilities (Head of Dept, Key Stage Lead).

TLR 3

Time-Limited school improvement projects.

SEN Allowance

For working in special schools or significant SEN roles.

What Do You Want to Work Out Next?

Use your salary as the starting point for the decisions that affect your actual income and career.

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Take-Home Pay

Calculate tax, NI, pension, student loan and allowances.

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Part-Time & FTE

See what reducing to 0.8, 0.6 or another FTE means for your pay.

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Promotion & Leadership

Compare leadership pay and whether greater responsibility changes take-home income.

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Teachers' Pension

See how salary and career decisions connect to your retirement planning.

Considering a bigger career change? Explore the Leaving Teaching Hub

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Frequently Asked Questions

Teacher pay scales are reviewed annually. The STRB (School Teachers' Review Body) makes recommendations to the government in the summer. The government then publishes the final 'School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document' (STPCD). Any changes usually come into effect on September 1st (backdated if the decision is delayed).

The school pay year runs from 1 September to 31 August, while the UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Schools make progression decisions under their own pay policies; moving up a pay point is not automatic. Changes to tax, National Insurance or pension thresholds can affect take-home pay in April even when gross pay is unchanged.

Teacher pay rises are funded through school budgets and government funding settlements or additional support. For the 2026/27 award, the Department for Education announced additional funding, but also said schools would be expected to meet the first 1% of the award through existing resources and efficiencies. Funding arrangements can vary by school and setting.

Yes. Although teachers are directed to work for 195 days a year, your annual salary is split into 12 equal monthly payments. This ensures you receive a consistent paycheck in August and December despite the school holidays.

Where your contract follows the Burgundy Book resignation provisions, the usual notice dates and end-of-contract dates are:

31 October: for 31 December.
28/29 February: for 30 April.
31 May: for 31 August.

Check your own contract and school conditions, especially if you work in an academy.

The London Fringe applies to specific districts bordering London (e.g., parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent). Teachers in these areas receive a higher salary than the 'Rest of England' but lower than Outer London.

References

Last Content Update: Oct 2026