AoC calls on STRB to support a pay increase for further education staff

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “This week, for the first time in 35 years, AoC returned an evidence-based report to the School Teacher Review Body (STRB). For too long pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with detrimental effects on the sector and wider economy, and we are hopeful that this is a positive step towards ensuring colleges have the funding they need to close the pay gap.

“The report is based on an up-to-date survey from colleges, national data collected by the Department for Education (DfE) and research from the National Foundation for Educational Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and it explains how pay levels in colleges affect staff recruitment, staff retention and the sector’s contribution to national goals. In the report, we ask the STRB to support our three headline ambitions on college pay.

“The first is that the pay increase for FE staff needs to exceed the increase recommended for school teachers with the DfE agreeing to fund colleges to start to close the pay gap. The second is that the DfE should immediately fund market supplements in several priority areas to ensure that staff recruitment and retention does not damage the delivery of skills that are vital to the government's ambitions. And finally, we are calling on the DfE to work with AoC to develop an evidence-based, policy-focused five-year plan to close the pay gaps and shortfalls in FE pay with funding provided as part of the 2025 spending review.”Ao C additional evidence to STRB Jan 25

You can read our full submission to the STRB here.

Update on 17 January 2025: AoC provided additional evidence to STRB with information on funding here