6 Top Tips to Move from MPS to UPS

The New Year is a great time to make changes in your life including your career goals. If you are a qualified, experienced and talented teacher, you may be thinking about career progression and how to move from the Main Pay Scale to the Upper Pay Scale. 

This could be something you work towards over a long period of time and there is no time like the present, so why not make this your New Year's resolution.

In order to do so, you need to apply for the Upper Pay Range where you are required to write a statement to show to your Headteacher that you are highly competent in all elements of the standards. It should also show that your contribution to the school or setting is substantial and sustained. 

To support you with your statement, ensure you are familiar with your school’s pay policy as this should hold more information about how the school will assess you and the criteria you will be marked against.  

Your school’s pay policy should also state how long your review period is. They are normally around 2 years but if you are not sure you will need to check with your Headteacher. Teachers can only submit 1 application for progression to the upper pay range per school year (unless there are exceptional circumstances) therefore, you need to make your application count. 

Here are some tips to help you write this statement:

1) Make your manager or Headteacher aware of your intentions in advance as they may offer you some advice.

2) Ensure you keep a record of recent discussions including your 1:1s and appraisals in the years leading up to your application. This is because you need to include in your application results of two most recent reviews or appraisals and recommendations about your pay.

3) Ensure you have your Personal Development Plan in place (PDP) to support you when writing your application. You can use your plan to remind you of your targets met and the progress you have made so far in your career.

4) Speak to colleagues that are on the Upper Pay Range for advice and support about how they made their application.

5) Include as much evidence as you need to support your application. 

6) Most importantly ensure you understand your school’s pay policy and have a copy that you can refer to so you ensure you are meeting the criteria. 

You can find out more information in the School Teacher’s Pay and Conditions document which provides guidance. 

Interested in applying for a Headteacher post? Have you read our 10 Top Tips When Applying for a Headship?