Teachers from Jamaica Grossly Underpaid in London Academies

Sir Dan Moynihan

Teachers recruited from Jamaica to work for the Harris Federation, one of England’s largest academy chains, have expressed their “devastation” upon discovering they are paid thousands of pounds less than their English-trained counterparts with similar experience. Many have spent years working in Harris schools while classified as “unqualified,” leaving them financially strained amidst London’s high cost of living.

The Harris Federation operates 54 state-funded schools and has actively recruited teachers from Jamaica, attracted by the promise of higher salaries compared to what they can earn in the Caribbean. However, these teachers report a lack of clarity regarding their pay status. Despite years of experience, they remain on the unqualified teacher pay scale, which results in significantly lower salaries.

Harris Federation’s chief executive, Sir Dan Moynihan, was paid between £485,000 and £490,000 in 2022-23, while seven executives earned over £190,000 each. Meanwhile, many Jamaican teachers have reported being “thrown in at the deep end,” expected to begin teaching with minimal job-specific training and without assistance in finding accommodation.

Since 2018, the Harris Federation has recruited over 150 teachers from Jamaica, primarily through the recruitment agency Hourglass Education. However, several teachers indicated that neither Hourglass nor Harris made it clear that it could take over a year for them to transition to the qualified teacher status (QTS) that would allow them to earn higher salaries.

Recently, the Harris Federation announced it is no longer working with Hourglass. Under existing regulations, teachers from certain countries can use a fast-track system to obtain QTS in England, which allows them to be compensated similarly to UK-trained teachers shortly after their arrival. Unfortunately, those coming from countries like Jamaica, India, Ghana, and Nigeria, who are qualified to teach subjects such as languages, math, or science, are often placed on a lower pay scale.

As of last year, England’s national pay scale for teachers allowed those with QTS to earn up to £47,666 in inner London, potentially rising to £56,959 for more experienced professionals. In contrast, unqualified teachers earn a maximum of £37,362, regardless of previous experience. While Jamaican teachers are exempt from income tax for their first two years in England, the financial disparity remains substantial.

The National Education Union (NEU) has criticized the Harris Federation for delays in processing QTS applications for overseas-trained teachers. Daniel Kebede, NEU’s general secretary, emphasized the importance of timely support for these teachers, stating it is unacceptable for the process to take over a year.

In response, a Harris spokesperson mentioned that the federation no longer uses a recruitment agency and has implemented dedicated relocation managers and mentors to support overseas staff. They acknowledged the ongoing challenge of securing affordable housing in London, a problem affecting many teachers.

One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that he was recruited in 2020 but only received his QTS this year, resulting in four years on the unqualified pay scale. He expressed frustration, stating, “It feels like they want to retain as much money as possible by delaying the qualification process.”

The situation has drawn parallels to the Windrush scandal, with teachers feeling undervalued and exploited. They highlighted the struggle to make ends meet on lower salaries while facing London’s high living costs.

In defense of its practices, the Harris Federation described its Jamaican staff as an “amazing cohort” contributing positively to student education. They acknowledged some staff dissatisfaction but noted that the negativity from the NEU does not reflect the experiences of most employees.

The federation claims to fully fund UK teaching qualifications for its Jamaican staff and provide extensive support to help them achieve this within three years. They also offer comprehensive inductions to help overseas staff adjust to life in London.

The recruitment of Jamaican teachers raises important questions about the ethics of poaching educators from countries that need them. As classrooms in Jamaica remain empty, the long-term implications for both countries merit closer examination.