AoC submits STRB evidence for second year, urging action on FE pay

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “This week, for the second year in a row, AoC has submitted an evidence-based report to the School Teachers’ Review Body. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute again, and we see this as a sign of growing recognition of the college sector’s critical role in delivering national priorities and how important fair pay is in enabling them to contribute.

“For too long, pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with a current and growing gap of around £12,000 between the median salaries of school and college teachers. This disparity has serious consequences for recruitment and retention, particularly in high-priority areas like construction, engineering, and health - sectors essential to the government’s Plan for Change.

“Our submission draws on surveys and conversations with our members, as well as national data from the Department for Education. It highlights how colleges are already doing everything within their powers to address the pay challenges. They are spending significant amounts on recruitment and retention incentives, and yet still struggle to compete with schools and industry. We believe STRB has a unique opportunity in its 36th report to build on last year’s work and help shape a more coherent approach to education workforce policy, across schools and colleges.

AoC continues to call for three key actions:

1. A headline pay increase for FE staff that exceeds the school teacher recommendation, with DfE funding to begin closing the gap.
2. Immediate funding for market supplements in priority areas to prevent further damage to recruitment and retention.
3. A joint effort between DfE and AoC to develop a five-year, evidence-based plan to close pay gaps and shortfalls in FE, supported through the 2025 spending review.

You can read our full submission to the STRB here.