Date updated: Wednesday 3rd April 2024
The Government’s five-point plan to reduce net migration to the UK involves substantial reforms to the sponsorship regime for Skilled Workers from 4 April 2024.
Schools were reassured that the planned hikes to Skilled Worker sponsorship salary level would not apply to education roles in recognition of shortages in the sector. However, the impacts on sponsorship of overseas workers in the education sector are set out below.
Employers wanting to sponsor any new teacher candidates in either primary, secondary or SEN from 4 April 2024 must be willing to pay whichever is the higher of:
a) a general salary threshold of £23,200
b) the going rate for the role based on national pay scales.
Not necessarily. You must consider the national pay scale for the role. For example, the national pay scale rate for a qualified teacher outside London/the Fringe is £30,000 and the national pay scale rate a qualified teacher in Inner London is £36,745. Any sponsored teacher must therefore be paid these rates at a minimum.
Also of note is that the occupation codes for teaching positions (which must be selected when assigning the CoS) will change from 4 April. Secondary school teachers now fall under SOC code 2313. The code for primary teachers has changed to 2314.
Yes. A discount will continue to apply to new entrants under 26 years of age to bring the general salary threshold down to £23,200 and reduce the going rate by 30%. The salary would still need to meet the higher of these two figures.
Yes. In recognition of shortages in the sector a greater number of roles in schools have been recognised as education sector occupations and will therefore benefit from the discounted salary thresholds. These roles include higher level teaching assistants, teaching assistants and educational support assistants. The going rate for these support roles will also be based on national pay scales which means that the absolute minimum salary payable will be £23,500.
This change is particularly encouraging and will come as a relief to schools wishing to fill support staff vacancies through sponsorship. The update may especially benefit SEN schools who rely more on support staff to provide essential daily care to students – if you would like further advice on this, please get in touch.
The Government’s five-point plan to reduce net migration to the UK involves substantial reforms to the sponsorship regime for Skilled Workers, we have detailed the changes here.
We advise state and independent schools on all aspects of sponsor licence and skilled worker sponsorship. Please contact our Head of Immigration, Julie Moktadir (juliemoktadir@stoneking.co.uk), if you require any support or training on the new system.
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