NJC pay from 1 April 2026
SCP 8 pay 2026/27
SCP 8 is £14.36 an hour (£27,709 a year full time). A term-time TA on 32.5 hours takes home about £1,444 a month.
Hourly rate
£14.36
up from £13.90
Full-time salary
£27,709
37 hours, all year
Typical take-home
£1,444
a month · 32.5 hrs, term time
SCP 8 pay by hours (term time)
Term time only (43.9 paid weeks a year), LGPS pension, tax code 1257L:
| Hours a week | Pay a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| 37 hrs | £23,329 | £1,603 |
| 32.5 hrs | £20,491 | £1,444 |
| 30 hrs | £18,915 | £1,355 |
| 27.5 hrs | £17,339 | £1,270 |
| 25 hrs | £15,763 | £1,181 |
| 20 hrs | £12,610 | £993 |
| 15 hrs | £9,458 | £745 |
Full time all year (37 hours, 52 weeks): £1,849 a month take-home.
The 2026 pay rise and back pay
| 2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £13.90 | £14.36 |
| Full-time salary | £26,824 | £27,709 |
The 3.3%rise applies from 1 April 2026 but was only agreed in August, so it's being paid late. On 32.5 hours term time it's worth about £55 a month before tax — roughly £327 back pay for April to September. How back pay shows on your payslip.
Overtime on SCP 8
An extra hour is paid at £14.36 (or £21.54 at time and a half). For a TA on 32.5 hours term time, you keep about £9.67 of each hour after pension, tax and NI.
Do bits of overtime here and there? Track them on your phone.
About SCP 8
This point is often used for teaching assistants starting out, or in their first few years. Your exact grade depends on your council or academy trust.
SCP 8 questions
What is SCP 8 an hour?
From 1 April 2026, SCP 8 is £14.36 an hour — up from £13.90 in 2025/26.
How much is SCP 8 for a term-time TA?
On 32.5 hours a week, term time only, SCP 8 pays about £20,491 a year (£1,708 a month before deductions). After pension, tax and National Insurance that’s about £1,444 a month.
How much back pay will I get on SCP 8?
On 32.5 hours term time, the 3.3% rise is worth about £55 a month before tax. If your school pays it in October, back pay for April to September is roughly £327 before tax and pension.
Is SCP 8 only for teaching assistants?
No — the NJC pay spine is used for most council and school support staff, so SCP 8 pays the same hourly rate whatever the job. How many hours and weeks you’re paid for depends on your contract.