Trainee teacher biology bursary

I am currently training in biology and the bursary is 26k plus 9k maintenance loan on top of that plus a 1600 bursary for completing a SKE so 36600 tax free (obviously the maintenance loan is repayable, but still its 27600 tax free). It's a good incentive but they haven't thought the retention element through because as an NQT i will be taking a huge paycut with a massive increase in responsibility, curious as to current teachers thoughts on that?

 

It is a massive paycut and with loan repayments and increased council tax (you can get student reduction during your studies) it is certainly food for thought. I’ve found it very difficult to manage and I am now an RQT