Local authority chiefs in Wales have welcomed an announcement that the Welsh Government intends to consult on a 3.5% pay award for teachers and school leaders, and a 5% increase for unqualified teachers.

Education Minister Anna Brychan confirmed the consultation will launch when schools return in September, alongside additional funding for local authorities and schools to help meet the cost of the award.

The move follows publication of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body's (IWPRB) report, which had recommended a flat 4.25% increase to all salaries and allowances from September 2026. Brychan said that recommendation was not affordable within existing budgets, citing the difficult financial circumstances facing schools and colleges.

The decision has drawn a sharper response from unions, with some accusing ministers of being reluctant to use devolved powers in their approach to pay. Concerns have also been raised about the funding award not being fully ring-fenced, leaving some schools facing difficult budget decisions.

The Government has also committed funding to double the length of full pay during maternity leave for teachers, subject to agreement between authorities and unions.

Responses to the pay consultation announcement

Lis Burnett, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Education spokesperson, said: ‘An appropriate salary is critical to reward hard working teachers and to attract talent to the sector to educate our children and young people. A pay award needs to strike a balance between rewarding dedicated teachers, providing a well-deserved pay rise while also protecting the education system and jobs.’

‘I very much welcome the confirmation that the proposed increase will be fully funded for this financial year, and that funding will be baselined from 2027,’ she continued.

‘School budgets are under immense pressure. In 2028-9, the budget gap in our schools is estimated to be at £114.9m – accounting for just under a quarter of the projected total £486m for local government. We must work together to find the sustainable solutions that we urgently need to secure our schools for the future.’

In a statement on the National Education Union website, the National Education Union Cymru welcomed the pay announcement but added that it ‘falls way short of the mark.’

‘For the second year running, the Welsh Government has chosen to ignore the recommendation of the Independent Pay Review Body with the announcement of an award that is below the 4.25% in their report,’ it said.

‘We expected the Plaid Cymru Government to use its devolved powers and announce a fully funded pay award. Partial funding and no ring-fencing of those funds simply means that some schools will struggle to balance the books.

‘We have warned the Welsh Government consistently for several years that unless significantly increased and sustained funding is allocated to schools, many would reach a crisis point.’