As part of its recruitment drive the government has dramatically increased its funding of PGCE students by abolishing tuition fees, awarding £6,000 grants to all students and awarding a further £4,000 bonus subjects on starting work to anyone teaching shortage subjects in a maintained school.

Otherwise, starting salaries for Newly Qualified Teachers are now around £21,500, rising to £27,000 for those in London. Apart from discretionary bonuses to enable schools to retain particularly key individuals, salaries are then subject to a set scale.Some teaching posts carry extra responsibilities and higher salaries - for example curriculum development, managing staff, liaison with governors, parents and the LEA etc. Experienced teachers who become Head of Department or take on other managerial posts are entitled to receive an additional allowance. Those who become Deputy Head or Head Teacher, with responsibility for managing all aspects of running a school, can earn anything from £40,000 up to £100,000.

Diversification away from the classroom is possible, for example moving into school inspection, LEA administration and so forth. Alternatively you can use your experience in education to branch into other careers such as publishing, commercial training, industry and so on.