Changes to teachers’ pensions in the private sector are likely to become unmanageable for many schools. What will the changes mean from an HR perspective? Anjali Kothari explains.
The Teachers’ Pensions Scheme (TPS) is about to become unaffordable for more than 100 independent schools with, according to the National Education Union, a negative impact on around 5,000 teachers.
DB and DC pensions
Defined-benefit pension scheme
Defined-contribution pension scheme
Unlike the state sector, private schools are having to fund an increase in the employers’ contribution from 16.84% to 23.68%. This means that many of these schools will eventually have to give up the TPS.
But fee-paying schools are being cautious and won’t rush to abandon the scheme. They are looking closely at the current remuneration packages and are considering what the alternative looks like.
What do the changes look like?
As a base case most schools are hoping to provide a scheme that matches the 16.48% employers’ contribution plus all the benefits such as death in service – but the scheme will be a defined contribution (DC) scheme and not a defined benefit (DB), or final salary, scheme.
The employers’ contribution increase was published following the most recent Government Actuarial Valuation dated 31 March 2016.
It is likely that a consequence of the next valuation will be that the employer contribution could rise again and unsubstantiated figures of 30% are being bandied around.
Faced with this prospect, the industry expectation is that affected schools will plan to exit the TPS before the next valuation.
Generational differences
Interestingly, from the HR perspective the changes have a positive aspect. Private school employers will be obliged to recognise that there is a disparity between the needs of the younger members of staff and those about to retire.
Away from the education sector, the commercial world has tackled this challenge long ago, whereas schools has been slow to move away from the system of traditional scales and automatic salary uplifts.
Consultations between employers and staff are continuing but some points worth noting include:
- Some teachers at the top end of the salary scale are already being taxed at the higher rates. While the scheme is still excellent, leaving would not be the end of the world;
- Younger teachers are already opting out of the TPS as they want more money in their pocket. Any future increases in employee contributions will no doubt result in more opt-outs;
- The TPS is just one of the areas considered and is not an overriding factor for teachers choosing a school; and
- The government has already reduced the benefits of the pensions saving regime. This trend is likely to continue. It is doubtful that the TPS and the benefits that a retiring teacher receives today will be the same that a teacher will get in 20 to 30 years’ time.
Teachers in the private sector who perhaps feel hard done by as a result of the current changes, may argue that they work exceptionally hard and that the benefits of the DB scheme and the very lengthy holidays are justified.
Most working parents might counter that they work just as hard without the equivalent benefits. In the corporate world DB schemes are few and far between, and teachers’ salaries are no longer so low that the DB scheme is necessary to compensate.
What is clear is that much of the independent sector cannot afford to absorb the increase and, equally, cannot pass on the full increase to parents who are already struggling to afford fee increases.
In many cases, a planned withdrawal of teachers from the TPS and into a defined contribution scheme looks like the best solution.
What a way to show disrespect to the teaching profession. The 50/60 hour weeks (probably more in independent schools) justify the holidays. If teachers (with their level of training) were working in the private sector, they would be paid a lot more. The retort is that they ‘could work elsewhere if they want’ but teaching is a calling – surely you want the best teaching your children? “Most working parents might counter that they work just as hard without the equivalent benefits.” – most teachers earn nowhere near as much as the parents who can afford to send their children to an independent school. Higher paid teachers towards the end of their career have the most to gain from remaining in. Many teachers will make their decision on which school to work in based on the TPS or not – 80% of independents are staying in and so are all state schools – why would you choose a school which is out? The 2015 changes have been challenged and the firefighter and judges decisions have been reversed – this is likely to make the TPS even more attractive.
It would be delusional if anyone thinks a school leaving the TPS will have anything except a very negative effect on recruitment and retention of the best staff.