Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department’s estimate is of the change in teachers’ pay in real terms in (a) 2026/27 and (b) 2027/28, based on the latest data and forecasts for inflation.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB) recommendations for a 3.5% pay award in 2026/27 and a 3% award in 2027/28. In addition, the Unqualified Teacher Pay Range outside London will increase by 5% in 2026/27. By September 2027, teachers will have seen their pay increase by 17% since this government took office, equivalent to a 3.8% real-terms increase based on the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts.
The government accepted the recommendation of an award for 2027/28 as part of a multi-year award to give schools budget certainty. The STRB considered whether a formal review mechanism was appropriate but concluded that this would undermine the benefits of a multi-year award.
The multi-year awards are expected to maintain both their real-terms value and pay competitiveness over the next two years, keeping pace with average earnings growth forecasts in the wider economy. The 2024/25 and 2025/26 awards had already improved the competitiveness of teacher pay.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department considered any changes to the teacher pay award for (a) 2026/27 and (b) 2027/28 in light of changes to the inflation outlook since February 2026.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB) recommendations for a 3.5% pay award in 2026/27 and a 3% award in 2027/28. In addition, the Unqualified Teacher Pay Range outside London will increase by 5% in 2026/27. By September 2027, teachers will have seen their pay increase by 17% since this government took office, equivalent to a 3.8% real-terms increase based on the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts.
The government accepted the recommendation of an award for 2027/28 as part of a multi-year award to give schools budget certainty. The STRB considered whether a formal review mechanism was appropriate but concluded that this would undermine the benefits of a multi-year award.
The multi-year awards are expected to maintain both their real-terms value and pay competitiveness over the next two years, keeping pace with average earnings growth forecasts in the wider economy. The 2024/25 and 2025/26 awards had already improved the competitiveness of teacher pay.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, under what circumstances she would ask the School Teachers’ Review Body to revisit its recommendation for the 2027/28 pay award.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB) recommendations for a 3.5% pay award in 2026/27 and a 3% award in 2027/28. In addition, the Unqualified Teacher Pay Range outside London will increase by 5% in 2026/27. By September 2027, teachers will have seen their pay increase by 17% since this government took office, equivalent to a 3.8% real-terms increase based on the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts.
The government accepted the recommendation of an award for 2027/28 as part of a multi-year award to give schools budget certainty. The STRB considered whether a formal review mechanism was appropriate but concluded that this would undermine the benefits of a multi-year award.
The multi-year awards are expected to maintain both their real-terms value and pay competitiveness over the next two years, keeping pace with average earnings growth forecasts in the wider economy. The 2024/25 and 2025/26 awards had already improved the competitiveness of teacher pay.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14 differ from technical education available to pupils through existing Key Stage 4 qualifications.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The existing key stage 4 qualifications offer enables pupils to take Level 1 and 2 Technical Awards alongside GCSEs. The proposed technical education pathways will initially draw on the existing key stage 4 Technical Awards while the Department works with Ofqual to develop new vocational GCSEs which support progression into A Levels, T Levels, V Levels, apprenticeships, universities and beyond. The first vocational GCSEs could be introduced in some subjects from September 2029.
The department will also work with schools and key partners, such as Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, to facilitate and encourage access to high-quality vocational qualifications, careers guidance, relevant work experience placements, and map how this supports progression into locally available post-16 qualifications, training and employment.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to schools of delivering the proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing the new technical education pathways. Our ambition is to give every young person access to high-quality technical education pathways from age 14 and support progression into further study, training and skilled employment.
We will work closely with Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges and employers to understand the implications of staffing, facilities and infrastructure.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the additional transport costs for pupils who need to travel to another school, college or provider to access a technical education pathway from the age of 14.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.
High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.
Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the respective roles of pupils, parents, schools, colleges and local leaders in determining whether a pupil aged 14 follows an academic or technical education pathway.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.
High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.
Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost to employers of providing work experience and employer engagement as part of the proposed technical education pathways from September 2028.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.
High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.
Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the evidence on the appropriate age for pupils to begin specialising in technical education.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.
High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.
Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.
Asked by: Patrick Spencer (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether pupils undertaking a technical education pathway from age 14 will be required to study GCSE English and mathematics alongside that pathway and what proportion of curriculum time the Government expects schools to allocate to those subjects.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is at an early stage in developing technical education routes from age 14. Rollout is intended to begin in some areas from September 2028. We are working with Mayoral and other Strategic Authorities to co-design a national framework that provides a recognisable national offer, with clear and consistent standards and expectations, while allowing areas to tailor technical routes to local labour market needs and growth priorities.
High-quality technical routes will be supported by the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs. These qualifications will sit alongside existing GCSEs and provide rigorous, vocationally focused learning of equal esteem. Pupils will continue to study the core subjects of English, maths, and science, alongside relevant work experience placements. Through the National Mission on Work Experience, the government is calling on employers to provide an additional 200,000 placements so that all 14-to-16-year-olds across the country gain vital exposure to the workplace.
Technical routes will widen young people’s choices rather than require them to specialise at age 14. Schools are expected, as part of their duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, to offer subject options that meet the aspirations of all pupils. Young people should be supported to choose qualifications and routes that reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations, informed by discussions with parents, carers, schools and colleges, and by high-quality careers guidance. The routes will support coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Central to our policy is our engagement with Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, schools, colleges, employers, local leaders, young people, parents, and bodies including Ofqual and Ofsted. This engagement and other evidence will inform and support our decisions on delivery arrangements.