How much will I earn as a graduate teacher?

The government has implemented schemes to attract more trainee teachers, attempting to reduce the shortages. Accordingly, in England ITT students are currently eligible for a maintenance grant or special support grant of up to £2,906 for the 2009/10 academic year. It is also possible to apply for a maintenance loan. For the academic year 2009–10 a bursary of £9,000 is available to eligible secondary trainees in maths, science, ICT, design and technology, modern languages, religious education and music; trainees in all other secondary subjects are entitled to £6,000. Trainees on primary courses are entitled to £4,000 and trainees starting secondary courses in English, dance and drama will receive a bursary of £6,000.

There are tuition fees, but you can apply to your local authority for a loan to cover these and do not have to start repaying the loan until you have finished studying and are earning more than £15,000 a year. Tuition fees for 2009/10 were £3,255.

Students in Wales are entitled to tax-free bursaries known as training grants, which range from £2,200 to £7,200 depending on the subject studied.

NQTs in a shortage subject may also receive a ‘golden hello’ of £2,500 or £5,000.

Trainees on employment-based schemes will receive a salary from the school. The minimum will be £15,461, but you could be paid more.

How much will I earn as a teacher and what benefits will I get?

From September 2009, the starting salary for NQTs in England and Wales is £21,102 – or £26,000 if you’re based in inner London.. This increases along a formal pay scale as you move up the career ladder and you will get extra ‘responsibility payments’ if you take on additional duties.

Teaching also brings fairly generous benefits, such as the teachers’ pension scheme. You will also enjoy far more holiday than most professionals (but you will probably have to do some work during your time off).

Find out more about the main and upper teaching pay scales.