Reviewed for UK readers: September 2026.
School job adverts often show both an FTE salary and an actual salary. The FTE figure is the annual rate for the full-time equivalent post; the actual figure reflects the contracted hours and, for many support roles, the term-time working pattern. Use our pro rata salary calculator to check the hours proportion, then verify any term-time factor shown by the school.
The important point is that teachers and school support staff can be covered by different pay arrangements. A teaching assistant’s term-time salary should not automatically be calculated using the same method as a part-time classroom teacher.
Quick answer
- Identify whether the role is teacher or support staff.
- Find the FTE salary and actual salary on the advert.
- Check weekly hours and full-time comparator hours.
- For term-time support posts, check paid weeks and holiday factor.
FTE salary versus actual salary
An advert might say “£28,000–£30,000 FTE; actual salary £20,100–£21,535”. The FTE range lets candidates compare the grade with full-year roles. The actual range is closer to what the successful applicant will earn on that contract before tax and other deductions.
Part-time teachers
For maintained-school teachers in England, the published pay framework uses the school’s timetabled teaching week to determine the percentage of a full-time teacher’s remuneration for a part-time teacher. The school should therefore be able to state the part-time percentage clearly.
School support staff
Teaching assistants, administrators, technicians and other support roles are commonly advertised on local-government or academy pay arrangements. Term-time-only support staff may have annualised pay that includes a contractual paid-weeks factor and is spread across 12 months.
Worked support-staff example
Assume a support role is £26,000 FTE at 37 hours, with 30 contracted hours. The hours factor is 30 ÷ 37 = 0.8108. If the employer’s term-time paid-weeks factor is 0.86, the estimated annual salary is £26,000 × 0.8108 × 0.86 ≈ £18,132. Always compare your estimate with the advertised actual salary because employers can use different contractual factors.
Questions to ask the school
Ask whether the quoted figure is FTE or actual, whether inset days are included, how many weeks are paid, what holiday factor is used and whether salary is paid in 12 equal instalments. These questions prevent most misunderstandings about school pay.
Common school-pay mistakes to avoid
Do not assume “term time”, “part time”, “FTE” and “actual salary” mean the same thing. A role can be full-time hours but term-time only, or part-time hours across a full year. For school vacancies, compare the FTE rate with the advertised actual annual salary and ask payroll to explain any paid-weeks factor. This is much more reliable than estimating from the number of school weeks alone.
Also check whether inset days, allowances and paid holiday are already included. If your estimate is materially different from the written offer, ask for the calculation before you accept rather than trying to reconcile it after the first payslip.
Use the calculator
For a quick gross salary estimate, use the Pro Rata Calculator UK. Enter the full-time salary and your hours, days or FTE, then compare the result with your contract or payroll figure.
Other school and term-time pay: term-time salary calculator · teachers · teaching assistants · term-time pro rata calculator · term-time only pay · term-time vs full-year salary · term-time holiday pay · teachers' pension · lecturers · HLTAs · nursery nurses · lunchtime supervisors · exam invigilators · school caretakers
Frequently asked questions
What does “salary pro rata” mean on a school advert?
It means the full salary is adjusted to match the contracted working pattern, which may include part-time hours, term-time weeks or both.
Is the actual salary the amount I receive after tax?
No. “Actual salary” normally means contractual gross annual pay before tax, National Insurance, pension and other deductions.
Are all school term-time calculations the same?
No. Paid-weeks and holiday factors can vary by employer and contract.
Should I calculate teacher pay like teaching assistant pay?
Not automatically. Teachers and support staff can sit under different national or local pay frameworks.
Authoritative sources
This article is general information, not personalised legal, tax or payroll advice. Employment contracts, collective agreements and individual circumstances can change the correct result.