Teachers in England will receive a 4% pay rise from September, after the Education Secretary accepted in full the recommendations of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for the 2025/26 academic year. This marks a significant step towards the government’s goal of recruiting 6,500 additional teachers by the end of this Parliament.
The STRB’s recommendation builds on last year’s 5.5% pay award and reflects continued efforts to recognise the vital role teachers play in improving outcomes for children.
As with other public sector services, schools will be expected to ensure they get the best value from every pound of public money. Schools will need to cover the first 1% of the pay award through increased productivity and smarter spending, while the government will provide a further £615 million in additional investment. Many schools are already cutting costs effectively, including 400 schools that have joined the Department’s new energy deal, saving them an average of 36%.
To fund this above-inflation pay award, the government has made what they describe as “tough but fair” decisions, including ending tax breaks for private schools, stopping programmes that offer poor value for money, and driving efficiencies through greater digital capability. These changes ensure that more money can be focused on improving standards for all pupils.
The pay rise supports the wider ambitions of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to drive high and rising standards in every school. Reforms include strengthening Ofsted inspections, establishing regional improvement teams to support underperforming schools, and introducing a new, broad curriculum to prepare pupils for life, work and the future.
A further £160 million will be provided to colleges and 16-19 education providers. This funding will help meet urgent needs, including recruiting and retaining expert teachers in key subjects such as construction and manufacturing, to equip young people with the skills needed to fuel economic growth and support essential industries.
The Plan for Change is already showing progress. This year, 2,000 more secondary school teachers have begun training compared to last year, and more teachers are expected to remain in the profession. Investment in tax-free financial incentives, targeted professional development, and measures to improve workload and wellbeing is helping to attract and retain top teaching talent.
The government will also support school leaders to get the best value from their budgets, offering a suite of productivity tools to reduce spending on essentials such as energy, banking and recruitment—ensuring every penny is invested in opportunities for young people.
