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Equality, diversity & inclusion

Closing the gender pay gap in education

This report explores the gender pay gap across the education sector and progress made in recent years.

Research
03/11/2021
training six people looking same direction

The gender pay gap measures the difference between the average hourly pay rate for men and the average hourly pay rate for women. Although related, it is distinct from equal pay.

This report explores the gender pay gap differences across the education sector and whether there has been any progress in reducing the gap in recent years. It is intended to inform debate and highlight areas where action may be needed to ensure that women leaders and educators are valued appropriately and equitably for the work that they do.Ìý

Research overview

The analysis was conducted by ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ, WomenEd, ASCL and NAHT and is based on a review of the latest data from the School Workforce Census.

Whilst the annual statistics highlight the yearly gap, this tells us very little about differences across the sector and whether there has been any progress in reducing the gap in recent years. Therefore, we have attempted to further analyse the data to track trends over time, and differences across phases, roles, and structures.

Closing the Gender Pay Gap in Education

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Key findings

The report provides the following recommendations.

Government should seek to:

  • Improve national level analysis of the pay gap trends from the Department for Education, which includes ensuring that the national data has separate information on the most senior roles in the system.
  • Act on the calls from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) and the sector for a comprehensive review of the pay framework for both classroom teachers and leaders.
  • Provide greater support to help mitigate some of the systemic barriers to flexible working opportunities for all roles, including senior leaders.
  • Encourage men and women to better share caring responsibilities, including greater promotion of paternal leave.
  • Renew or replace the EDI Hub funding, which was discontinued at the end of 2020.

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  • "...when I went for my headship, I didn’t know what the right scale was or what to ask for! I didn’t have the confidence to ask or to challenge...I want to give my staff greater knowledge and the confidence to act."

    Headteacher and research participant

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