Analysis: is the “extra pay” in some academy contracts really such a good deal for teachers?

Teachers at one of England’s largest academy chains are being paid nearly 20 per cent less per contracted hour than they would be if it followed national pay and conditions arrangements, calculations by this website indicate.

Ark Schools requires its teachers to work 8am to 5pm daily. This adds up to nearly 300 hours per year more than the national School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), which applies in non-academy schools, stipulates.

This means that, even though Ark pays its teachers 2.5 per cent more than professionals of equivalent experience working in non-academy schools, at the academy chain they are having to work 23 per cent more, in terms of their contracted hours.

A teacher in the first year of their career at Ark, then, would be paid up to £20.80 per contracted hour, compared to their equivalent in the non-academy sector, who would receive £25.02 per hour: a difference of 17 per cent. The situation is the same further up the pay spine.

The findings come as England’s largest academy chain, the United Learning Trust, also appears to be paying its teachers less per contracted hour. And, a third, the Harris Federation, though paying its teachers up to £2,000 more than they would get if they were on national pay and conditions, has a working year of 30 hours more in terms of directed time, and conditions overall which are such that the National Education Union in Brent, north London, is advising members to stay with national contracts where they can.