Here’s how much UK teacher pay will rise in 2026 and 2027
Key Points
- UK teacher pay rises 6.5% over two years
- 3.5% from September 2026, then 3% from September 2027
- Average salary tops £52,800 in 2026, £54,400 in 2027
- £1.8 billion extra for schools, £485 million for colleges
- Academy trusts face approval curbs on £174,000-plus roles
UK school teachers will receive a 6.5% pay rise over two years after the government accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendations in full on Wednesday (1 July).
The award delivers a 3.5% increase from September 2026, followed by 3% from September 2027, taking the cumulative rise to 17% since the last general election.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson signed off the multi-year deal alongside £1.8 billion in additional school funding over the two-year period.
The raise means that the average school teacher salary will climb to over £52,800 from September 2026 and over £54,400 from September 2027. The government said the 17% cumulative increase since it took power equates to almost £7,900 more over four years for the average teacher.
The headline numbers break down as follows:
- Average salary above £52,800 (2026) and £54,400 (2027)
- 3.5% pay rise from September 2026
- 3% pay rise from September 2027
- 6.5% total increase across the two years
- 17% cumulative rise since the last general election
Schools will be expected to fund the first 1% of each award themselves through what the government called continued efforts to maximise value from their budgets, with the remainder covered by the £1.8 billion top-up.
The Department for Education said the deal builds on improved workforce figures, with over 4,500 more teachers in secondary schools, special schools and colleges since 2024. That puts the government past 70% of its commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers, with three years left to run.
The number of people training to teach this year rose 13%, which the government described as a post-pandemic record. Fewer teachers are also leaving the profession.
Colleges and executive pay
Further education is covered separately, with an additional £485 million going to colleges and other FE providers over two years.
The government said the money is intended to help them recruit and retain teachers and deliver vocational, academic and technical courses.
There are also curbs being introduced on academy executive pay.
From September, academy trusts will need government approval before advertising roles paying over £174,000, bringing the sector into line with the NHS and colleges.
Annual increases for trust executives will also be capped at the level set for classroom teachers, meaning senior leaders cannot receive rises higher than the wider workforce.
