Articles
Teacher & teaching assistant pay guides
Plain-English guides to pay, pensions and mortgages for teachers and TAs in England — written by a teacher.
Teaching Assistant Pay Rise 2026: How Much Back Pay Will You Get?
The 3.3% pay rise for teaching assistants was agreed in August 2026 and backdated to April. Here's roughly how much back pay you'll get at each pay point, and how it shows on your payslip.
Teacher Pay Award 2026: What the 3.5% Rise Means for Your Take-Home Pay
Teachers in England get 3.5% from September 2026 and 3% from September 2027. Here's what the 2026 rise adds to your monthly take-home at every scale point after TPS, tax and NI.
Teacher Take-Home Pay 2026/27: What You Actually Get at Each Scale Point
Worked examples for M1, M3, M6, U1 and U3 showing what lands in your account each month after TPS pension, tax and NI — 1 September 2026 pay scales, 2026/27 tax year.
Teachers' Pension Scheme: What You Contribute and What You Get
The TPS explained clearly — 2026/27 contribution tiers, what you build up each year, the 28.68% employer contribution, and why it remains one of the best pensions available to teachers.
The Upper Pay Range Explained — U1, U2 and U3 for Teachers
What the Upper Pay Range is, how to apply, what you earn at U1, U2 and U3 in 2026/27, and exactly how much more lands in your account each month compared with M6.
Part-Time Teacher Pay — How FTE and Pro-Rata Work
How part-time teacher salaries are calculated, what FTE means, how TPS applies to pro-rata pay, and 2026/27 worked examples showing your actual monthly take-home.
Buying a Home as a Teacher: How Your TPS Pension Affects Your Mortgage
Teachers have stable, pensionable employment that lenders view favourably — but the TPS can complicate affordability calculations. Here is what to know.
The 4% Teacher Pay Award 2025: What It Actually Meant for Your Pay Packet
The STRB recommended 4% for 2025/26, effective September 2025. After TPS pension, tax and NI, how much extra did it actually put in your account each month?