ECT
Teachers in maintained schools in England, and in most academies, are paid under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), which sets national pay ranges; your school's pay policy decides where you sit on them. An ECT is usually on the Main Pay Range (M1–M6), rest of England, which runs from £34,068 to £46,939 (provisional rates from 1/9/2026).
All figures are illustrative. Use your contract, payslip or employer for definitive amounts.
Sector context
ECT roles within Schools sit in the Education part of the UK public sector. Pay, leave and family leave terms are usually shaped by national or sector frameworks, then applied by your employer. The calculators below use illustrative data for this role; your contract and local policies always take precedence.
How pay works in schools
Qualified teachers in England are paid under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD): Main Pay Range, Upper Pay Range and Leadership ranges. Support staff (teaching assistants, business managers, site staff) are often on NJC spinal column points through the local authority or academy trust. TLR and SEN allowances are separate payments for defined responsibilities. Academies can set pay within statutory limits; always check your school contract.
For ECT, our dataset typically maps this role to Main Pay Range (M1–M6) on School Teachers' Pay (England). Your actual grade may differ; check your contract.
About this role
Find out more about the ECT role within Schools and whether it would be the right role for you.
What is an ECT?
An ECT (Early Career Teacher) is in the first two years of teaching after gaining QTS. They receive structured support and reduced timetable. Pay is on the Main Pay Range (STPCD).
Typical demands, progression and balance
ECT years offer support and rapid development. Pay and satisfaction depend on school and subject. Progression to full pay range and TLR roles is common.
Progression and pay
ECT → Main Pay Range → Upper Pay Range (application). Use the calculators on this page to model pay on the teachers’ pay spine.
Popular scenarios
Jump straight to a common planning question for this role.
Calculators for this role
Browse our career-focused calculators for those who work as an ECT, covering pay progression, promotion paths, take-home pay, working patterns, leave, allowances and more. Click the calculators below to get started.
Common questions
Which calculators should I use first for ECT?
Start with pay progression to see how Main Pay Range (M1–M6) pay could move over time. If you are weighing promotion, try career decisions. For part-time or reduced hours, use work patterns. Take-home pay, annual leave, sick pay and maternity calculators help with day-to-day planning.
Does Schools pay exactly like the national framework?
Often yes for base pay and leave, but employers can have local agreements, spot salaries, market supplements or academy freedoms. Use these tools to understand typical structures, then confirm anything material with your employer.
Can I plan part-time working as ECT?
Yes. Use the part-time or reduced hours calculator for your role, then follow the part-time planning journey to link allowances, leave and take-home pay with the same band and FTE saved in your browser.
Where can I read longer guides on pay and leave?
Open Guides in the site menu for in-depth articles on AfC, teachers' pay, FTE, sick pay, maternity and more, with links back to role calculators like this page.
In-depth guides
Longer articles on pay frameworks, FTE, leave and career planning for your sector.