Written Statement: Teacher pay award 2026 to 2027

In July, I updated members about my intention to consult in September on the latest teacher pay award. This consultation has now been undertaken, and I would like to thank partners for their responses.

I can confirm that next week I will publish a revised version of the School Teachers Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2026 to 2027 and guidance on school teachers’ pay and conditions (STPC(W)D) which will include a 3.5% uplift to teachers’ and school leaders’ pay scales, and a 5% uplift to the unqualified teachers’ pay scale. Further Education lecturers will also receive a 3.5% uplift to ensure pay parity.

I appreciate the responses to the consultation expressing disappointment that the proposed pay award does not match the IWPRB recommendation. However, a 4.25% increase was not affordable within existing budgets and I have therefore taken the decision to implement a lower award.

Given the precarious financial climate, we have to balance a range of responsibilities across our public services. As well as our support of the teaching profession, we are also committed to reducing waiting times for NHS patients, addressing the cost-of-living for families and tackling child poverty. As part of this cross-government decision-making, we are mindful that any pay deals will need to be fair and proportionate.

I remain committed to the principle of no detriment, and do not wish to see teachers and school leaders in Wales disadvantaged relative to those in England. As such, we have committed to a 3.5% pay increase this year, to match that recommended in England.

I can also confirm that the revised STPC(W)D will include the changes I consulted on, including changes to implement three of the IWPRB’s previous recommendations, which are the result of close social partnership working:

• a single pay scale for classroom teachers so that they will progress up the pay scale and see their pay increase accordingly, every year
• changes to ensure leaders’ holiday periods and weekends are protected
• removing barriers to teachers accessing existing salary sacrifice schemes for cars

To implement these changes, next week I will also make the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2026 which gives effect to the STPC(W)D. The pay award will be backdated to 1 September 2026. Timing of the implementation of the award will be a matter for employers, and I encourage them to arrange for back pay to be passed on as soon as possible.

Over the summer, I also remitted the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body to begin considering their recommendations ahead of the pay award for 2027 to 2028, to enable those recommendations to be made earlier than was possible in the previous year.