Teachers must get a proper pay rise after more than a decade of real-terms wage cuts, unions have warned.
Government proposals to hike salaries for experienced teachers by 3% in 2022/23 and 2% the next year would amount to a pay cut for most staff, teaching unions said.
The plans, set out in the official response to the pay review body, would also see new teachers salaries boosted to £30,000-a-year by 2023/24, in line with a Tory manifesto commitment.
But the union leaders warned that the plans amounted to "another significant real-terms pay cut for most teachers" once inflation rates are taken into account.
Brits are facing a spiralling cost of living crisis, with inflation rising to 5.5% in January.
Public sector pay rises were put on hold in 2021/22 for all staff except NHS workers and those who earned less than £24,000 due to heavy borrowing during the pandemic.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an end to the year-long freeze at the last Budget.
Kevin Courtney, NEU Joint General Secretary, said: "With inflation climbing ever higher, the Government's proposals would not only be divisive but would result in yet another significant real-terms pay cut for most teachers.
"Instead of continuing to cut teacher pay, the Government should be taking urgent action to restore the pay cuts imposed since 2010 so that we can recruit, retain and value the teachers we need. "
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said the soaring cost of living crisis was driving teachers into hardship and compounding staffing issues.
“Uncompetitive pay levels are contributing to a worsening picture on teacher supply," he said.
Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the move to increase starting salaries to £30,000 over two years.
But she added: "It is regrettable that it comes in the shadow of the completely unnecessary imposition of a pay freeze this year which has made recruitment and retention even harder."
Ms McCulloch said the Government "does not seem to understand how fed up people are with the significant erosion of salaries that has taken place over the past decade" - and warned of losing experienced staff.
She added: "We once again call upon the School Teachers’ Review Body to assert its independence, recommend a significant across-the-board increase for teachers and leaders that begins to repair the damage of the last decade, and for the government to put its money where its mouth is and ensure that schools have sufficient money to pay their wages.”
Schools Minister Robin Walker said: "Teaching is a high-value and prestigious profession. Inspirational teachers change millions of lives by giving our children and young people the drive and desire to learn.
"I am delighted to confirm we are delivering on the Prime Minister’s commitment of a £30,000 starting salary for teachers.
"This reflects an uplift of over 16% for new teachers in the coming two academic years and is the latest in a package of measures to benefit teachers, including the Levelling Up Premium worth up to £3,000 tax-free for high demand subjects and significant reforms to teacher training at all career stages.
“We want to continue attracting the brightest and the best to give the next generation the education they deserve and level up opportunities right across the country.”
