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Teachers: Pay

Volume 459: debated on Monday 30 April 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what teachers' (a) starting salary, (b) salary after seven years employment and (c) average pay was in each of the last 30 years; and what the percentage change was in each year at today's prices. (133354)

[holding answer 23 April 2007]: To derive figures for a 30-year time period for starting salaries and salaries after seven years employment would be at disproportionate cost.

The average salary figures for (a) newly qualified entrants and (b) teachers with between seven and eight years experience for both March 1997 and March 2005 (provisional), expressed in cash and real terms in 2005-06 prices, for England and Wales is shown in the following table.

Average salaries in cash and real termsMarch 1997March (provisional)Cash (£)Real (£)Cash (£)Real (£)Real terms difference (Percentage)Newly qualified entrants in England and Wales114.56018,08019,73020,10011Between 7 and 8 years experience222,52027,97032,06032,66017 1 Teachers qualifying through college based routes in England or Wales in the previous calendar year in full-time regular service the following March.2 Includes only teachers on the main and upper pay scale.Notes:1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.2. Real term figures based on latest GDP deflators (21 March 2007) from HMT shown in 2005-06 prices.

Average salaries are used to answer parts (a) and (b) because there are, in fact, no set salaries for those starting teaching or those with seven years' experience.

In relation to part (c), average salary figures over the last 30 years for teachers are available and are shown in the following table in both cash and real terms, with percentage year on year and cumulative changes, for England and Wales.

Year1

Average salary in cash terms2 (£)

Salaries in 2005-06 terms (£)

Yearly real terms increase/decrease (Percentage)

Cumulative real terms increase/decrease (Percentage)

1975

3,110

21,400

1976

3,960

21,710

1

1

1977

4,330

20,920

-4

-2

1978

4,560

19,370

-7

-9

1979

5,320

20,370

5

-5

1980

6,090

19,940

-2

-7

1981

7,640

21,160

6

-1

1982

8,300

21,010

-1

-2

1983

8,890

21,000

0

-2

1984

9,400

21,230

1

-1

1985

9,950

21,340

1

0

1986

11,020

22,410

5

5

1987

12,860

25,340

13

18

1988

14,640

27,310

8

28

1989

14,380

25,080

-8

17

1990

15,520

25,260

1

18

1991

17,140

25,860

2

21

1992

19,230

27,350

6

28

1993

20,750

28,590

5

34

1994

20,970

28,160

-2

32

1995

20,510

27,130

-4

27

1996

20,990

26,940

-1

26

1997

21,670

26,910

0

26

1998

22,210

26,800

0

25

1999

23,080

27,160

1

27

2000

23,980

27,660

2

29

2001

25,540

29,050

5

36

2002

26,880

29,870

3

40

2003

28,500

30,720

3

44

2004

29,590

30,970

1

45

20051

30,590

31,160

1

46

1 Data from March that year.

2 Excludes those in leadership/head teacher positions and particular grades outside of the main and upper pay scales in the years where this is appropriate.

3 Provisional.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

2. Real terms figures based on latest GDP deflators (21 March 2007) from HMT shown in 2005-06 prices.