Education Letter: Teachers are worth more
Opinions on girls and science, literacy and numeracy tests, Chris Woodhead, the role of research, and falling academic standards
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE PUBLIC Sector Review page of The Independent on 2 February covered the public sector pay increases and I noticed that Judith Judd and Ben Russell's article quoted: "The pay for a newly qualified graduate teacher outside London will rise from pounds 15,012 pa to pounds 15,537 pa from April."
While the figures quoted are correct for Pay Point 2, I feel that it must be pointed out that the DfEE guidelines on pay start at Pay Point 0. Graduate Teachers basic pay line is Point 0. Starting at pounds 13,362 pa at 1998 rates, a 3.5 per cent increase would give a newly qualified teacher only pounds 13,829 pa from April 1999. It is only "Good Honours Graduates" who start on Pay Point 2.
There are some teachers starting in their new careers with an Ordinary Degree or a Lower Class of Honours degree who may start on pounds 13,829 pa and not pounds 15,537 pa in 1999! Using these figures, even our hard pressed nurses with a new rate of pounds 14,400 (your figures) are better off than the new teacher!
Perhaps the Government should tell teachers and nurses that they cannot be paid a salary on the same level as a police constable. A constable started on pounds 12,744 a year in 1993, rising to pounds 16,044 after two years! I understand she or he would start on a salary in excess of pounds 17,000 today, and you do not need a diploma or degree, although many entrants do. It seems to me that priorities for public services have gone off the rails somewhere.
DAVID JONES
Abbeymead, Gloucester
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments