UK Head Teacher Salaries 2025: Complete Guide
Head teacher pay in England is set within the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), which is updated annually following recommendations from the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). For 2024/25, head teacher salaries are organised into eight school groups (Groups 1–8), with a separate leadership pay range for deputy and assistant head teachers.
The 2024 STPCD awarded a 5.5% pay uplift to all teachers and leaders, meaning headteacher salaries increased significantly from 2023/24 figures. Head teachers in the largest schools can now earn up to £125,098 before additional allowances.
The Headteacher Group and Pay Range (HTPR)
Each school is assigned to a group based on a weighted pupil unit (WPU) score. The governing body or academy trust must then set the headteacher's salary within the range for that group. They have discretion to pay anywhere within the range, and in exceptional cases can add a Headteacher Allowance of up to 25% above the group maximum.
Head Teacher Salary by School Group 2024/25
| Group | Minimum | Maximum | Typical school type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | £47,185 | £55,361 | Very small primary (fewer than 100 pupils) |
| Group 2 | £50,151 | £63,508 | Small primary (100–200 pupils) |
| Group 3 | £55,913 | £70,293 | Medium primary / small secondary |
| Group 4 | £62,570 | £77,195 | Large primary / medium secondary |
| Group 5 | £69,972 | £86,142 | Large secondary |
| Group 6 | £76,731 | £96,539 | Very large secondary / small MAT |
| Group 7 | £87,313 | £113,281 | Large secondary / growing MAT |
| Group 8 | £97,915 | £125,098 | Largest schools / major MATs |
| Deputy Head | £44,226 | £97,915 | Leadership Pay Range |
How Head Teacher Take-Home Pay Is Calculated
A head teacher's take-home pay is reduced by three main deductions: income tax, National Insurance contributions, and Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions. Here is how each works for the 2025/26 tax year:
Income Tax (2025/26)
The Personal Allowance is £12,570. Earnings above this are taxed at:
- 20% (basic rate) on taxable income between £12,571 and £50,270
- 40% (higher rate) on taxable income between £50,271 and £125,140
- 45% (additional rate) on taxable income above £125,140
Note: The Personal Allowance is tapered for those earning over £100,000 — it reduces by £1 for every £2 above £100,000, meaning it is fully lost at £125,140. This creates an effective 60% tax rate in this band for headteachers in Groups 7 and 8.
National Insurance (2025/26)
- 8% on weekly earnings between £242 and £967 (£12,570 – £50,270 annually)
- 2% on weekly earnings above £967 (above £50,270 annually)
Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS)
Employee pension contributions range from 7.4% to 11.7% of salary. These are deducted before tax in some cases, providing additional tax efficiency. A head teacher earning £75,000 would typically contribute 10.2%, adding around £7,650 per year in pension contributions. The TPS is a career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme providing a guaranteed pension in retirement.
Worked Example: Group 4 Head Teacher
A head teacher at the top of Group 4 earning £77,195 with a 10.2% pension contribution (£7,874) would have:
- Gross salary: £77,195
- Pension contribution: £7,874 (not tax-deductible in CARE scheme)
- Taxable income: £77,195
- Personal Allowance: £12,570
- Basic rate tax (20% on £37,700): £7,540
- Higher rate tax (40% on £26,925): £10,770
- Total income tax: £18,310
- NI (8% on £37,700): £3,016 + (2% on £26,925): £538 = £3,554
- Net annual take-home: approx. £47,457
- Monthly take-home: approx. £3,955
Deputy and Assistant Head Teacher Pay
Deputy head teachers are paid on the Leadership Pay Range, with salaries from £44,226 up to £97,915 for 2024/25. The governing body sets the deputy's salary within this range, usually linked to the school's group size and the complexity of the role. In practice, most deputy heads earn between £55,000 and £80,000.
Assistant head teachers are also paid on the Leadership Pay Range, typically at the lower end. Some schools also pay a Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payment if the assistant head has subject leadership duties.
Pay Progression and Performance Management
Unlike classroom teachers who progress up a main pay range, head teachers' pay is set and reviewed annually by the governing body based on performance management outcomes. The STPCD requires governors to assess performance against objectives set at the start of the year. Outstanding performance can justify a pay increase up to the group maximum, while poor performance can result in no increase or, in academies, a reduction.
There is no automatic increment for head teachers — pay rises must be earned through the performance management process. This is a significant difference from the main pay range structure for classroom teachers.
Head Teacher Pay in Academies and Free Schools
Academies and free schools are not bound by the STPCD and can set their own pay policies. In practice, many follow STPCD guidance, but executive headteachers in large multi-academy trusts (MATs) can earn significantly more than the Group 8 maximum. Some MAT executive leaders earn in excess of £200,000, though these salaries are publicly reported and subject to scrutiny.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) requires academies to declare any staff earning over £100,000 in their annual accounts, providing transparency on the highest earners in the sector.
London and Inner London Allowances
Head teachers working in Inner London, Outer London, or the London Fringe receive additional London Weighting payments on top of their HTPR salary:
- Inner London: Additional £6,479 per annum (£7,672 for inner London fringe)
- Outer London: Additional £4,086 per annum
- London Fringe: Additional £1,014 per annum
These allowances are consolidated into the salary for pension calculation purposes and are subject to the same income tax and NI deductions.
Headteacher Allowance
In exceptional circumstances, governing bodies can award a Headteacher Allowance of up to 25% above the Group maximum. This is reserved for heads who take on significantly greater responsibilities, such as leading a federation of schools or acting as executive headteacher across multiple sites. Any payment above the group maximum must be documented and justified in the school's pay policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum head teacher salary in England starts at £47,185 for Group 1 schools — the smallest schools by pupil numbers. This applies from September 2024 following the 5.5% pay award. In Wales and Scotland, separate pay frameworks apply.
The maximum head teacher salary in England under the STPCD 2024 is £125,098 for Group 8 schools. Schools can pay above this via the Headteacher Allowance (up to 25% more in exceptional cases), and academy trust executive heads are not subject to any national cap.
School groups are determined by a points-based weighted pupil unit (WPU) system. Points are awarded for pupil numbers, age range, additional needs, and sixth form provision. The higher the total WPU score, the higher the school group (1–8), which sets the headteacher's pay range.
Deputy head teacher salaries range from £44,226 to £97,915 under the STPCD 2024/25 Leadership Pay Range. Most deputy heads earn between £55,000 and £80,000, depending on school size, performance, and governing body decisions.
Yes. Head teachers pay income tax at 20% on earnings between £12,571–£50,270 and 40% on earnings above £50,270. They pay National Insurance at 8% up to £50,270 and 2% above that. Note: head teachers earning over £100,000 lose their Personal Allowance at a rate of £1 for every £2 earned above £100,000.
Yes. Maintained schools can pay a Headteacher Allowance of up to 25% above the group maximum in exceptional circumstances. Academies and free schools are not bound by STPCD and can set their own pay. Academy executive heads in large MATs often earn well above Group 8 levels.
Head teachers in maintained schools are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), a defined benefit CARE scheme. Employee contributions range from 7.4% to 11.7% depending on salary. This reduces take-home pay but provides a valuable, index-linked pension. The TPS normal pension age is 65 for career average benefits.