Prime Highlights:
- Teachers in Northern Ireland will receive a 4% pay increase for the 2025-26 school year, giving many an extra £1,000–£2,000 per year.
- The pay rise recognizes teachers’ hard work and comes alongside plans to reduce workloads and improve classroom support.
Key Facts:
- The pay increase is backdated to 1 September 2025, benefiting teachers immediately.
- A teacher at the bottom of the pay scale will move from £31,650 to £32,916, while a top-scale teacher will go from £48,919 to £50,876.
Background:
Teachers in Northern Ireland will get a 4% pay rise for the 2025-26 school year following an agreement between the teaching unions and the Department of Education. The increase will be backdated to 1 September 2025, giving teachers extra income immediately.
For most teachers, this rise adds between £1,000 and £2,000 a year before tax. A teacher at the start of the pay scale, earning £31,650, will see their salary go up to £32,916, while a teacher at the top of the scale will move from £48,919 to £50,876.
The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council, which represents the five main teaching unions, NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU, and NAHT, called the agreement the best possible outcome for this year. Its chairman, Justin McCamphill, said the deal is a fair way to recognize teachers’ hard work during financially challenging times.
The pay rise matches what teachers in England will receive but comes as the Department of Education faces budget pressures. The department has said the increase will cost about £38 million in 2025-26 and around £65 million each year afterward.
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomed the agreement, saying it shows appreciation for teachers and the important role they play in helping students succeed. The deal also coincides with plans to address teacher workloads. Minister Givan confirmed he will respond soon to the Independent Review on Teacher Workload, which aims to reduce administrative tasks for staff.
Mark McTaggart, NITC secretary, added that while work continues on improving funding and conditions, this pay deal provides teachers with stability and allows unions and the department to focus on practical changes in classrooms.
Overall, the agreement is a significant step in acknowledging teachers’ contributions in Northern Ireland and aligns their pay with the rest of the UK.
