Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce pay inequalities between Further Education staff and staff in schools and academised sixth form colleges.

Further education (FE) colleges and sixth form colleges are responsible for setting and negotiating pay within colleges and have the freedom to implement pay arrangements within their own local circumstances. In addition, there are sector-led arrangements for pay in FE colleges and sixth form colleges through the National Joint Forum and National Joint Council.

Last year, we announced an additional £190 million for colleges and other 16 to 19 providers for the 2025/26 financial year. We are providing nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 programme funding for the 2026/27 academic year. This funding will support both FE colleges and sixth form colleges in addressing pressures, including supporting recruitment and retention of excellent specialist teachers.

Our targeted retention incentive offer is designed to retain eligible FE teachers in technical subjects with payments of up to £6,000 after tax. In its first year, nearly 6,000 teachers received a payment. Eligible teachers at FE colleges, sixth form colleges and 16 to 19 only academies and schools are able to access the scheme.