School Group Size Calculator
Pupil units → total unit score → school group → headteacher pay range
Gross (annual)
£71,330
Net (TPS on)
£47,436
Net (monthly)
£3,953
About this pay scale
Every state school in England is assigned an STPCD "group" from 1 to 8, and that group determines the pay range available for its headteacher on the Leadership Spine. The group comes from the school's total unit score: each pupil contributes units according to their key stage (older pupils count for more, reflecting curriculum complexity), and the governing body totals these to place the school in a group when setting the head's Individual School Range (ISR).
The group matters well beyond the head's own pay: deputy and assistant head ranges are set relative to it, and a school moving between groups (a growing free school, or an amalgamation) triggers an ISR review. Federations and executive headships covering multiple schools can be grouped on combined unit totals — one reason executive head salaries can exceed the single-school Group 8 ceiling.
Work out your school's group
STPCD assigns each pupil a unit score by key stage. The school's total unit score determines its group (1–8), and the group sets the headteacher's pay range on the Leadership Spine.
| Pupils | Units per pupil |
|---|---|
| Primary (Reception – Year 6) | 7 |
| Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) | 9 |
| Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) | 11 |
| Post-16 / sixth form | 13 |
Special schools use a modified computation with higher per-pupil weightings, and pupils with additional needs attract extra units — see STPCD Part 2 for the full rules. The estimator below covers the mainstream-school computation.
Quick group estimator
Enter pupil numbers to estimate the group.
Group boundaries and headteacher pay ranges
| Group | Total unit score | L-spine range | Rest of England | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | up to 1,000 | L6–L18 | £58,569 – £78,702 | £68,361 – £88,496 |
| Group 2 | 1,001 – 2,200 | L8–L21 | £61,534 – £84,699 | £71,327 – £94,491 |
| Group 3 | 2,201 – 3,500 | L11–L24 | £66,368 – £91,158 | £76,154 – £100,951 |
| Group 4 | 3,501 – 5,000 | L14–L27 | £71,330 – £98,106 | £81,120 – £107,891 |
| Group 5 | 5,001 – 7,500 | L18–L31 | £78,702 – £108,202 | £88,496 – £117,995 |
| Group 6 | 7,501 – 11,000 | L21–L35 | £84,699 – £119,350 | £94,491 – £129,141 |
| Group 7 | 11,001 – 17,000 | L24–L39 | £91,158 – £131,578 | £100,951 – £141,365 |
| Group 8 | 17,001 and over | L28–L43 | £100,540 – £143,796 | £110,327 – £153,490 |
FAQ
What unit score does a typical school have?
A one-form-entry primary (~210 pupils, all at 7 units) scores about 1,470 — Group 2. A 1,000-pupil 11-16 secondary (roughly 600 KS3 × 9 + 400 KS4 × 11) scores about 9,800 — Group 6. A 1,500-pupil school with a large sixth form typically clears 17,001 units — Group 8.
Who calculates the unit score — can I check it?
The governing body (or trust board) is responsible for the calculation when it sets or reviews the head's pay range, using pupil numbers from the October census. It's not routinely published, but the inputs are public: pupil numbers by key stage are in the DfE's school census data, so the mainstream computation above can be reproduced for any school.
Do special schools use the same units?
No — special schools use a modified STPCD computation with higher per-pupil weightings reflecting provision complexity, and pupils with additional needs attract extra units. The group boundaries are the same once the total is computed. See STPCD Part 2 for the full special-school rules.
Does the group affect classroom teachers' pay?
No — MPR, UPR and unqualified ranges are identical regardless of school size. The group only drives the Leadership Spine ranges (headteacher directly, deputy/assistant indirectly via the ISR-setting process).
Try the calculator
The figures on this page assume a full-time teacher (1.0 FTE) on TPS at the appropriate contribution tier, no student loan, no salary sacrifice. Real life is more nuanced — use the calculator to layer in your specific situation (part-time FTE, TLR / SEN allowances, student loan, exact pay point) and see your real take-home.