Kent Scheme Pay Award 2022

This outcome is not yet an agreed conclusion of local pay bargaining undertaken with trade unions.

Following the exceptional context which the Covid-19 pandemic presented, the normal TCP process resumed this year. This means there was a requirement to make assessments following a review of Total Contribution. The usual TCP Rules are applicable with regards to pay progression and assessments.

Pay Scale Information for Schools

The increase to the Kent Scheme pay scale is informed by both the increase in National Living Wage and the Foundation (real) Living Wage. We advise that Schools should look at their local flexibilities to accommodate any issues which may arise locally.

Some changes to the scale are detailed below:

• KR3, the minimum pay point, is £10 per hour or £19,293 per annum, to reflect and continue to exceed both the rising National Living wage to £9.50 and the Foundation (real) living wage to £9.90. This represents a 4.71% increase to the bottom of the Kent Scheme pay bands.
• The Kent Scheme pay bands have been increased by at least 1.5%, the exception is grades KR3 to KR5 and the bottom of KR6. These have been increased by a higher percentage to maintain our pay policy principles whilst accommodating the increase to £10 per hour for KR3. It is for this reason that people on grades KR3 to KR5 won’t necessarily retain their grade position as this will be dependent on their assessment rating, however, will receive a consistent increase as for others.
• There continues to be a difference of at least £1,200 between the top of each successive grade. Also, there is a 0.5% pay gap between the top of one grade and the bottom of the next which helps make the distinction between grades clear.

View the Kent Scheme Pay Scale for 2022-23 (PDF, 14.9 KB).

View the Kent Scheme Apprentice Pay Framework for 2022-23 (PDF, 186.2 KB).

The Apprentice framework covers all types of apprenticeships except where an apprentice has completed the first year of their apprenticeship and at that point is aged 19 or above, in these circumstances apprentices are paid the National minimum wage for their age for the remainder of the apprenticeship.

The Kent Scheme newsletter for schools (PDF, 180.5 KB) is also available and includes useful information about The Local Government Pension Scheme rates and Kent Scheme pay scales.

Schools which follow Kent scheme are required to apply these increases and new grade bandings effective from 1 April. For other schools operating a September to August pay cycle, an appropriate Pay Policy needs to be in place. Kent Academies which follow Kent Scheme conditions have discretion as to whether to apply these increases.

Non-Consolidated (Lump Sum) Payments

As with previous years, staff at the top of the grade, depending on the level of their assessment, will have the opportunity to exceed the grade maximum and receive a lump sum payment so their total pay award is consistent with the percentage increases paid to staff not yet at the top of their grade. There is the is the opportunity to receive this payment in one payment or 12 equal instalments, whichever better suits an individual’s circumstances.

Employees who wish to receive their lump sum payment in instalments, should discuss this with their Headteacher and the School should make arrangements with their payroll provider to ensure pay is calculated correctly.

Current School Allowances

The current school allowances (PDF, 58.6 KB) available to support staff have also been increased by 1.5%.

Total Contribution Pay (TCP) for Kent Scheme Terms and Conditions

As in previous years, where the Governing body has made provision within their pay policy to do so, Kent schools continue to be able to exercise local discretion regarding the percentage increases applied to each of the assessment ratings. For more information ask your Line Manager or Headteacher in the first instance.

To confirm the assessment ratings are Outstanding, Excellent, Successful, Performance Improvement Required and Not Assessed - (applicable reason required).

Individuals with an assessment rating of ‘Performance Improvement Required’ will receive no pay increase. Individuals with an assessment rating of ‘Not Assessed’ will receive no pay increase unless their salary falls beneath the grade minimum, at which point they will move to the new grade minimum. It is important that deferred assessments are completed in good time.

Performance assessments

We continue to recommend TCP ratings are discussed with line managers, to understand what went well and to be clear on what objectives are for successful and what it looks like this is exceeded.

Changes to Kent Scheme Annual Leave Provision

As part of Local Pay Bargaining, the Kent Scheme annual leave arrangement has improved further. The new entitlements are shown below. The standard annual leave entitlement for staff on grades KR3 to KR12 has increased by an additional day. The Concessionary Day remains.

Annual leave entitlement from 1 April 2022

There is an additional bank holiday in 2022 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In recognition of this the summer term at Community and Voluntary Controlled schools will end a day early on Thursday 21 July 2022.