For immediate release:

SCOTLAND’S TEACHERS REMAIN BEST-PAID IN THE UK FOLLOWING NEW PAY DEAL

MSP for Rutherglen, Clare Haughey, has welcomed the news that Scotland’s teachers have accepted an enhanced pay offer, which will ensure that they continue to be the best paid in the UK.

The deal between the local government umbrella body COSLA and teaching unions will see teachers receive a 4.27% pay increase, after the Scottish Government provided an additional £29 million of funding to local authorities.

The news comes after Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, announced that an overwhelming 95% of its members had voted to accept the deal.

Speaking after agreement was reached, The General Secretary of the EIS, Andrea Bradley, stated that the deal met the union’s terms since it is above both the consumer prices index and retail prices index measures of inflation, as well as being undifferentiated across all pay grades.

This new pay deal follows a 14.6 percent increase over 28 months that teachers secured in March 2023.

According to Tes, formerly known as the Times Educational Supplement, Scottish teacher starting salaries were £32,217 from January 2024, in England, outside of London, new teachers get paid £30,000 a year. In Wales the starting salary for teachers is £30,742. At the top of the scale Scottish teachers also earn more – £48,516 from January, compared with £41,333 at the top of the main scale in England (outside London) and £42,466 in Wales.

Commenting, Clare Haughey said;

“This pay award reflects the high value the Scottish Government places on our teaching workforce, and the vital contribution of teachers.

“This additional funding to Councils, in the face of very tough financial circumstances and continuing austerity from the new UK Labour Government, demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to education.

“Our teachers across Rutherglen and Cambuslang do an incredible and often very challenging job educating and supporting children and young people. I am delighted to hear that this new deal means that this will be reflected in their pay, and that they will continue to be the best paid in the UK.”

ENDS