Immigration reforms: How will the Education Sector be affected by skilled worker salary increases?

Following a Government announcement of significant reforms to the Skilled Worker Visa route from April 2024, schools and colleges who employ overseas workers will face a tighter visa and sponsorship system in a drive to limit net migration.

What is changing?

The headline change is that minimum salary level for Skilled Workers will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 – a jump of almost 50 per cent – from April 2024.  Teachers should not need to meet this higher salary threshold. 
Will this effect teaching roles?

Teachers working on national pay scales are expressly exempted from this salary hike, so the ability for most schools to sponsor both primary and secondary vacancies should remain.  

There is uncertainty about Teaching Assistants or Educational Support Assistants in a SEN context, various other non-teaching roles within schools and colleges and teaching staff within some academies and independent schools who do not follow national pay scales.  No further detail is available regarding roles in schools that would be excluded by (or protected from) the general Skilled Worker salary raise.  

The shortage occupation list (which currently recognises shortages in secondary education in maths, physics, science, computer science and modern foreign languages, and Gaelic teachers in both secondary and primary) and offers a reduced salary threshold is also under review.  It will remain in place until at least April 2024. 

Are there other visa options to work in schools?

The Graduate visa route which offers a two-year access to the UK labour market to international students who complete their studies in the UK remains, but will be put under review from January until late 2024. 

We anticipate further policy announcements that promote expansion of Temporary Worker routes such as the Youth Mobility Scheme, which is available to young people from a defined list of countries in the 18-30 or 18-35 age bracket.  These are not visa routes that lead to long-term settlement in the UK, and therefore do not drive up net migration figures, but can still providing an additional labour pool to supplement the UK workforce.

How does this impact international students?

Those in Higher and Further Education, should also be aware of previously announced changes to Student visas from January 2024, removing the right to bring dependants Partners and children to the UK unless studying on postgraduate research courses, and removing the ability for international students to switch onto work routes before their studies are completed.  

When was the announcement made?

The five-point plan for immigration was announced on 4 December 2023 by Home Secretary James Cleverly and can be read here. Further detail on the timeframe was announced on 21 December . 

Our Immigration Team has reviewed the plan in further detail.