Currently, academy trusts have the flexibility to deviate from the nationally established terms and conditions outlined in the annual School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) and the broader Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales, also known as the Burgundy Book.

However, this flexibility has been significantly constrained by the need to adhere to protections for terms and conditions relevant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE), in addition to the influence of trade unions advocating for continued compliance. As a result, most academy trusts still uphold the STPCD.

The government’s proposals indicate that compliance with the STPCD will become mandatory for academy trusts. In return, the Department for Education (DfE) suggests that the academy sector will finally gain a voice concerning pay and conditions. This would involve expanding the role of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which advises the Secretary of State for Education on teachers’ pay and conditions, to encompass academies. Currently, academies employ approximately 58% of teachers in England, according to the STRB.

For the minority of academy trusts not currently following the STPCD, this change will significantly impact how they determine conditions and remuneration for their teaching staff. Nonetheless, the overall effects of these proposed changes on the wider academy sector remain uncertain.

Alongside this, the DfE has proposed a 2.8% pay increase for teachers in the 2025/26 period, which will not be fully funded. This indicates that schools might need to implement ‘efficiencies’ to accommodate this increase. This presents financial concerns for the upcoming year, suggesting that restructuring and potential redundancies may be on the horizon.