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Recruitment and retention awards

Read guidance, including union advice, on when staff can receive recruitment or retention awards. Download our template letter for notifying teachers when you want to grant a payment.

Last reviewed on 2 December 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 11541
Contents
  1. Teachers can receive benefits or payments
  2. Payments for support staff
  3. Union advice on payments
  4. Use our template to notify teachers

Teachers can receive benefits or payments

Under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), the relevant body sets recruitment and retention awards for teachers. The 'relevant body' is usually the governing board, or the board of trustees (if you're in a trust, check your scheme of delegation to make sure). 

If your school doesn't follow the terms of the STPCD, you're free to set your own rules on recruitment and retention awards.

If the relevant body considers it necessary to recruit or retain teachers, teachers can can receive:

  • Payments
  • Financial assistance
  • Support or benefits

For example, you could offer a salary advance scheme for a rental deposit.

This is explained in paragraph 27.1, page 31 of the STPCD, linked above.

Regular, formal reviews must be held to oversee the process

The expected duration of these awards The review date after which they may