Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language
Following negotiations with unions and the WLGA, earlier this year the Welsh Government presented a new enhanced pay offer for teachers and headteachers.
For the 2023/24 academic year, the revised offer comprised of a pay uplift of 5% alongside further clarification of teachers’ terms and conditions. The pay award will be backdated to 1 September 2023. Timing of the implementation of the award will be a matter for employers.
Consequently, I will today make the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (No. 2) (Wales) Order 2023 which gives effect to section 2 of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2022 and guidance on school teachers’ pay and conditions (revised) – September 2023 and section 2 of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2023 and guidance on school teachers’ pay and conditions.
The Order being made today also allows for a slight amendment to the methodology used for calculation of the non-consolidated lump sum payable in 2022/23. Stakeholders raised the issue of how the lump sum had been calculated and that a simpler approach would be fairer and more transparent. Whilst the additional amount payable under the revised methodology will only be less than £1 for most teachers, I agree that we should strive for fairness and transparency and therefore have agreed to amend last year’s one-off payment where appropriate.
I would, once again, like to thank everyone who participated in these constructive negotiations. I am pleased to continue to work together with stakeholders on a comprehensive review of the structure of teachers’ and school leaders’ pay and conditions as well as addressing concerns around current terms and conditions.