UK Headteacher Salary 2025/26
Substantive headteacher pay across all 8 school groups, 4 regions
Gross (annual)
£82,654
Net (TPS on)
£52,745
Net (monthly)
£4,395
About this pay scale
Substantive headteachers in England state schools are paid on the Leadership Pay Spine (L1-L43) within a range determined by their school's "group". The group (1-8) is set by school size and complexity — broadly: Group 1 is the smallest schools (typically primary, sub-150 pupils), Group 8 is the largest secondary schools and academies (1,500+ pupils with sixth form). Schools must consult on group size and pay ranges through the Individual School Range (ISR) process.
Headteacher pay by school group
Substantive headteachers in state schools are paid within a school-group-banded range on the Leadership Pay Spine. Group is set by school size and complexity through the Individual School Range (ISR) process.
| School group | L-spine range | Rest of England | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | L6-L18 | L6-L18: £58,569 - £77,924 | L6-L18: £68,361 - £87,619 |
| Group 2 | L8-L21 | L8-L21: £61,534 - £83,860 | L8-L21: £71,327 - £93,556 |
| Group 3 | L11-L24 | L11-L24: £66,368 - £90,255 | L11-L24: £76,154 - £99,951 |
| Group 4 | L14-L27 | L14-L27: £71,330 - £97,136 | L14-L27: £81,120 - £106,823 |
| Group 5 | L18-L31 | L18-L31: £78,702 - £107,131 | L18-L31: £88,496 - £116,827 |
| Group 6 | L21-L35 | L21-L35: £84,699 - £118,169 | L21-L35: £94,491 - £127,863 |
| Group 7 | L24-L39 | L24-L39: £91,158 - £130,274 | L24-L39: £100,951 - £139,965 |
| Group 8 | L28-L43 | L28-L43: £100,540 - £143,796 | L28-L43: £110,327 - £153,490 |
Group 1 is typically small primaries; Group 8 is the largest secondaries with sixth form. Deputy and assistant heads are paid on the Leadership Spine but their range is set by the school individually, not by group bandings.
FAQ
How is my school's group decided?
The school's Individual School Range (ISR) is set by the governing body, taking into account school size (pupil number), context (sixth form, special needs), complexity of provision, and the responsibilities of the post. There's no single formula — the governing body proposes the group; STPCD provides ranges and guidance. Group 1 schools are typically very small primaries; Group 8 are large multi-academy trust flagships.
What about deputy heads and assistant heads?
Deputy and assistant headteachers are also paid on the Leadership Pay Spine but their range is set by the school individually (not by group bandings — those are only for substantive heads). Schools must justify their pay range against the responsibilities of the role. Use "No group restriction" in the calculator if you're a deputy/assistant head.
Does Inner London pay give me a bigger uplift as a head?
Yes. Inner London uses a separate Leadership Pay Spine — entirely different figures, not a percentage uplift. At L18 (Group 4 mid-point) the difference is £71,330 (Rest of England) vs £81,120 (Inner London) — a £9,790 gap, around 14% extra.
Can a head's pay go above their group's top point?
In limited cases, yes. If the post has exceptional responsibility (e.g. executive headship across multiple schools, "Headteacher of Headteachers" arrangements), governing bodies can apply for a discretionary uplift beyond the standard group range. These are rare and require strong justification.
How is headteacher pay decided?
The school's group size, from 1 to 8, sets the L-range the post sits in. Within that range the governing body sets the individual salary on appointment, so group size determines the bracket rather than the exact figure.
What decides a school's group size?
A unit total based on pupil numbers weighted by key stage, with additional weighting for pupils with special educational needs. Larger and more complex schools fall into higher groups with correspondingly higher L-ranges.
Try the calculator
Figures assume 1.0 FTE with TPS on. Headteacher pay is set within the group range by the governing body, so two heads of similarly sized schools can sit several L-points apart.