You’ve worked out what you think you should be paid, and the payslip says less. Before you worry, check these eight things. They’re listed roughly from most to least common.
The examples use a teaching assistant on SCP 5 (£26,427 FTE), 30 hours a week, 39 weeks, Green Book holiday. The correct pay is £18,348.91 a year (£1,529.08 a month).
1. The advert showed the FTE salary
The most common reason by far. £26,427 is the full-time, all-year salary. Your actual salary is about 69% of that. See what does FTE salary mean?
2. Gross vs take-home pay
Our calculators show gross pay. Your bank receives your pay after income tax, National Insurance and pension contributions (the Local Government Pension Scheme for council and most school staff). On a first payslip an emergency tax code can make the difference bigger.
3. Different weeks
Check your contract says 39 weeks, not 38:
| Weeks worked | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 38 | £17,878.43 |
| 39 | £18,348.91 |
| 40 | £18,819.40 |
Each week is worth about £470 a year at these hours.
4. A different full-time week
If your employer uses a 36- or 35-hour full-time week, your hours are a bigger share of full time, so you’d be paid more (£18,858.61 at 36 hours, £19,397.42 at 35). If you’ve been told 37 but your colleagues are on 35, ask why.
5. Different holiday
Your paid holiday weeks change your pay:
| Holiday | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Statutory minimum (12.07%) | £17,960.79 |
| Green Book, under 5 years | £18,348.91 |
| Green Book, 5+ years | £18,593.88 |
If you’ve passed 5 years’ continuous service and your pay hasn’t gone up, ask whether your leave has been updated.
6. Holiday worked out wrongly
Two mistakes we see in online calculators and spreadsheets:
- Forgetting holiday altogether: 39 ÷ 52 gives £16,070.47, which is £2,278.44 too little.
- Adding the full 5.6 weeks instead of pro-rating: (39 + 5.6) ÷ 52.143 gives £18,327.63. That’s close to the Green Book answer by coincidence, but it isn’t the rule.
7. The pay award hasn’t been paid yet
NJC pay awards apply from 1 April but are often agreed months later and then backdated. The 2026/27 award (3.3%) was agreed in August 2026. Until it’s paid, you’re on the 2025/26 rate.
8. Starting or leaving part way through the year
Term-time pay is spread evenly, but holiday builds up as you work. In your first or last year, payroll may adjust your pay so you’re paid for the holiday you’ve actually built up.
What to do next
- Put your contract details into the term-time pay calculator and compare the working with your payslip.
- Ask payroll for the calculation in writing.
- Contact your union or ACAS if it still doesn’t add up.