A different scheme, not a different deal
Devolution split the teaching pension systems in 2010s administration terms: Scotland runs the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (STPS) through the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), while England and Wales run the TPS through Teachers' Pensions. The design is deliberately similar — a CARE scheme with 1/57th accrual — but the administration, contribution bands and some rules are separate.
| Feature | STPS (Scotland) | TPS (England & Wales) |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | SPPA (Dundee) | Teachers' Pensions |
| Accrual | 1/57th | 1/57th |
| Active revaluation | CPI + 1.6% | CPI + 1.6% |
| NPA | State Pension age | State Pension age |
| Contribution bands | Set by SPPA, separate structure | 7.4% – 12.7% |
| Minimum pension age | 55, aligned with UK-wide change to 57 in 2028 | 55, rising to 57 in 2028 |
Contributions: check your own band
SPPA sets Scottish contribution bands separately from the England tiers, and they have historically differed in both thresholds and rates. The one thing this page will not do is invent a Scottish tier table — your SPPA statement and the SPPA contribution schedule are definitive.
What Scottish income tax does to your pension contributions
Pension contributions reduce your Scottish taxable income, and Scotland's bands start higher-rate tax earlier than the rest of the UK. Two practical effects:
- Teachers crossing into the Scottish 42% band get 42p of tax relief per pound contributed — stronger relief than English colleagues on the same salary.
- The Scottish starter and intermediate bands mean some teachers pay slightly more tax on the same STPCD salary, though on main-scale pay the difference is modest — the Scotland pay page quantifies it.
Retirement ages and early access
The STPS follows the same structure: NPA linked to State Pension age for CARE benefits, minimum pension age 55 rising to 57 on 6 April 2028, and actuarial reductions for early payment. Phased and flexible retirement options exist in broadly similar form. As with contributions, the definitive factors are SPPA's — treat any England-published reduction table as indicative only.
Moving between Scotland and England
Teachers move across the border more than most professions assume, and the schemes handle it:
- Service transfers — STPS and TPS service can be transferred between the schemes when you move, preserving value under aggregation rules.
- Deferred service stays put — you can leave STPS service deferred in Scotland while accruing in the TPS, claiming each separately.
- Election windows — transfer elections have time limits after joining the new scheme, so raise it with the new administrator in your first term, not your last.
The projection caveat that matters most
The pension calculator models the shared CARE mechanics accurately for Scottish teachers — accrual, revaluation and retirement ages are the same. What it cannot model is the Scottish contribution band or any SPPA-specific factor. Use it for the pension projection; use SPPA's own tools and statements for contribution and reduction figures.
Where Scottish teachers actually differ day to day
- Different administrator: SPPA, with its own portal, statements and timescales.
- Different contribution bands — check, do not assume.
- Different pay negotiation (SNCT) feeding different salary growth into projections.
- The same core pension promise: 1/57ths, inflation-linked, for life.
Frequently asked questions
Do Scottish teachers have the same pension as English teachers?
The core design matches: both are CARE schemes with 1/57th accrual, CPI+1.6% active revaluation and State-Pension-linked NPA. But Scotland runs the separate STPS through SPPA, with its own contribution bands and administration.
Who runs the Scottish teachers' pension?
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), based in Dundee, administers the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme. Statements, contribution schedules and retirement estimates all come from SPPA, not Teachers' Pensions.
What do Scottish teachers pay into their pension?
SPPA sets Scottish contribution bands separately from the England tiers, and they differ. Check the current SPPA schedule or your payslip — do not assume the England 7.4%-12.7% structure applies.
Can I transfer my teachers' pension between Scotland and England?
Yes. STPS and TPS service can transfer between the schemes when you move, and deferred service can stay where it is while you accrue elsewhere. Transfer elections have time limits after joining the new scheme, so raise it early.
When can Scottish teachers retire?
On the same structure as England: NPA linked to State Pension age for CARE benefits, with access from 55 rising to 57 on 6 April 2028, and actuarial reductions before NPA.
Is the Scottish teachers' pension still final salary?
No — post-2015 service is CARE (1/57th) in Scotland too, with pre-2015 service holding final salary protections broadly parallel to England, subject to the Scottish remedy implementation.
Sources
Related tools and guides
how the teachers' pension works
How the Teachers' Pension Scheme works in 2026/27: CARE accrual at 1/57th, contribution tiers, revaluation, NP
Teacher Pay Scale Scotland 2026/27: SNCT Tables
Scottish teacher pay for 2026/27: SNCT salary points from probationer to Chartered Teacher, and how Scotland d
LGPS Pension Calculator for School Staff
Project your LGPS pension: 1/49th accrual for teaching assistants and school support staff, contribution bands
teachers' pension calculator
Project your Teachers' Pension: salary, age and pension built so far in, annual pension out at any retirement
Teacher Pension Contributions
What teachers pay into the TPS in 2026/27: every contribution tier from 7.4% to 12.7%, how the FTE salary rule
Teachers' AVC Calculator
Project your Teachers' AVC pot: monthly contributions, growth assumptions and tax relief, plus how AVCs compar