More than half of schools have shunned the chance to give their best and most experienced teachers a two per cent pay rise, a survey has found.
Nicky Morgan introduced the extra pay flexibility in September to give headteachers the freedom to reward staff already receiving the maximum pay award.
But a survey of 111 schools by law firm Winckworth Sherwood found that 52 per cent had continued to offer pay rises of just one per cent.
James Lynas, an employment partner at the law firm, said: “It’s clear that even though the restrictions have been loosened, most schools don’t feel able to foot the bill for additional pay.”
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said although schools had been given more freedom, they hadn’t been given the money to do anything with it.
He added: “Conscious of massive pressures on their budgets, and more challenges to come, schools have generally chosen the fairest and most prudent route.”
Sara Ford, pay, conditions and employment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said many teachers at the top of the main pay range move onto an upper pay scale “so [the finding] is a bit of a mixed picture.”
The survey found that three per cent of schools did not increase the value of their main pay range points at all.
Ms Ford added: “There are unfunded pay pressures on schools and they can’t meet these.”
Your thoughts