Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 34
34
In the three years from 2018–19, the Department gave grants towards teacher pay increases, and...
Conclusion
In the three years from 2018–19, the Department gave grants towards teacher pay increases, and to meet the full cost of increased pension contributions. From 2021–22, the Department will incorporate most of this additional funding within the dedicated schools grant instead of giving it as separate grants, which will make the funding less 42 Qq 9–10 43 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.24–2.25 44 Q 18 45 Qq 18–20, 88 46 Letter from the Secretary of State for Education to the School Teachers’ Review Body, 18 September 2019 47 C&AG’s Report, para 1.18 48 SCF0005 National Association of Head Teachers submission, page 4 School Funding 15 transparent.49 The Department told us that the extra money for pay and pensions would be maintained in the short term, but could not give this assurance for future spending review periods.50
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6: PAC conclusion: The Department cannot say when it will implement its commitment to a starting salary of £30,000 for new teachers. 6: PAC recommendation: The Department should set out a timetable for meeting its commitment to a £30,000 starting salary for teachers, along with details of how this will be funded. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 6.2 As is standard process, the department will be seeking the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for the 2022-23 academic year pay award. 6.3 As part of this process it will provide written evidence to the STRB. This will set out the department’s intended approach to delivering the £30,000 starting salary for teachers. 6.4 However, the exact delivery of the commitment will of course be subject to the STRB’s recommendations and government response. 6.5 The department currently expects that written evidence will be submitted to the STRB early in 2022.