A panel representing teachers in Scotland has unanimously voted to accept a new two-year pay agreement from local authorities. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) confirmed that the offer from Cosla, the umbrella body for local authorities, includes a 4% pay increase in the 2025/26 fiscal year, followed by an additional 0.25% in April and another 3.25% next August.
While the SNCT Teachers’ Panel welcomed the pay offer, they emphasized the need for more substantial increases in future years to effectively counteract the declining value of teachers’ salaries. The committee comprises representatives from teachers’ unions, local councils, and the Scottish government.
Details of the Agreement
Des Morris, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) salaries chair for the SNCT Teachers’ Panel, described the decision as pragmatic, ensuring stability in pay for teachers over the next two years. He stated, “This is a pragmatic decision, which will provide certainty on pay for Scotland’s teachers for a two-year period.”
The agreement also includes a commitment to negotiate a re-opener clause for the second year of the deal, aimed at protecting teachers from inflation. The EIS had previously encouraged its members to accept the deal, labeling it the best possible outcome under the current circumstances.
The newly accepted agreement comes after a previous pay offer was rejected in June, as teachers found it insufficient. That proposal included a 2% increase in August and a further 1% rise in May 2026. The current deal, which will be backdated to August 2025, marks a significant improvement.
Looking Ahead
Morris pointed out that accepting this offer allows teachers to focus on other pressing issues, such as the ongoing dispute over reducing weekly class contact time. He expressed concern that negotiations regarding pay had once again resulted in delays for teachers’ salary increases this year. He called on local authorities to expedite the implementation of the pay deal, ensuring that teachers receive their increases and any owed back pay before the Christmas holidays.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth expressed her satisfaction with the acceptance of the offer, stating it ensures that classroom teachers in Scotland remain the best paid in the UK. “I am particularly pleased that many teachers may now benefit from their backdated pay award ahead of Christmas,” she noted. However, she acknowledged the need for earlier pay settlements in the future, hoping the extended deal would facilitate improvements in the negotiation process moving forward.
