Ministers have announced plans to double the period of full maternity pay for teachers, leaders and support staff in England, increasing it from four to eight weeks.
According to the Department for Education, the change - expected to apply to teachers and leaders from the 2027–28 academic year - marks the first uplift to maternity pay in more than 25 years. The proposal will be included in the Schools White Paper due to be published on Monday 23 February.
The government also intends to introduce a “new schoolteacher retention programme starting from this autumn, providing peer support, coaching, and resources to help schools support their staff to manage workloads, support their wellbeing, and offer more expanding flexible working”.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I’m concerned that too many women feel they don’t have the support they need to make the right choice for them. Maternity pay for teachers has been left to stagnate for too long. That’s why I am taking the first step in 25 years to improve it, backed by a new programme that will support more women returning after leave, so more pupils benefit from the experienced teachers they need at the front of classrooms.”
At present, teachers receive four weeks on full pay, followed by two weeks at 90%, then 12 weeks at 50% plus statutory maternity pay, and statutory pay thereafter. Under the new plan, full pay would continue for eight weeks before tapering to 50% for 10 weeks, then statutory pay.
Teachers’ maternity pay arrangements are set out in the Burgundy Book (the National Conditions of Service for Teachers in England and Wales), which forms part of the employment contracts for teachers in community, foundation, voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools, as well as most academies.
Support staff covered by the Green Book (the National Joint Council agreement for Local Government Services) currently receive 90% for six weeks, 50% plus statutory for 12 weeks, then statutory pay.
Statutory maternity pay stands at £187.18 per week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower.
Only maintained schools in England are required to follow national pay and conditions, while academies may set their own terms, though many choose not to. Around 46% of schools now operate as academies.
If passed, the Schools Bill will oblige academies to adopt national pay and conditions for teachers and leaders, including the revised maternity provisions.
This article is based on a piece written for Personnel Today
