Kent Scheme Pay Award 2026

County Council have agreed the Pay Award for 2026/2027.

Agreement on the pay award has been reached with our recognised Trade Unions.

Kent Scheme Pay Award Information for Schools

KSA has increased to £13.56 per hour or £26,168 per annum, to reflect and continue to exceed both the rising National Living and Foundation (real) Living Wage. This represents a 6.75% increase to KSA.

The Kent Scheme pay bands have been increased at the tops by 3.8%. Exceptions to this are KSA to KSE, which have been increased by a higher percentage to maintain our pay policy principles and to accommodate the increase at KSA.

The new grade bandings apply to Voluntary Controlled and Community Schools. Where a school does not follow the KCC pay award timeline - an appropriate pay policy needs to be in place. In any event, schools cannot pay beneath the new statutory minimum from 1 April 2026, as has been the case in previous years. Foundation and Voluntary Aided schools are not obliged to follow Kent Scheme Pay and Progression.

View the Kent Scheme Pay Scale for 2026-27 (PDF, 62.3 KB)

Performance Assessments

We recommend you discuss your performance assessment with your manager, to understand how you have performed and can reflect on the difference you have made. It also provides an opportunity to identify performance objectives, discuss what good performance looks like and what development, performance and wellbeing support you may need throughout the year.

Current School Allowances

The school allowances available to support staff have also been reviewed and increased.

Please find details of the new allowances can be found (PDF, 72.0 KB)

Kent Scheme Newsletter for Schools

The Kent Scheme newsletter for schools from 1 April 2026 is also available for you to view and download and includes useful information about The Local Government Pension Scheme rates and the huge variety of benefits available for Kent scheme employees working in Voluntary Controlled and Community Schools on the Kent Rewards platform.

If you have any questions about any of the details of the Kent scheme pay award, please contact your line manager or Headteacher. This communication has also been sent from the Corporate Director’s office to the Headteacher or nominated persons in each Kent school.