Popular Questions

1. When will my P60 be issued?

2. I am a temporary teacher, when will I get paid?

3. I am a permanent/pro-rata teacher, when will I get paid?

4. Who is my employer?

5. If I am off sick, what medical evidence (if any) am I required to provide?

6. What is my sick leave/pay entitlement?

7. What is my maternity leave/pay entitlement?

8. What is my Adoption leave/pay entitlement?

9. What is my Paternity leave/pay entitlement?

10. How do I get a teacher reference number?

11. What rate of pay do I receive?

12. What type of contracts are available to me?

13. Would you please advise which forms I should complete to claim incremental credit for previous relevant industrial experience (applicable to Further Education applicants only)?

14. I have recently changed my name/address/bank details, who must I inform?

If you require any further information or assistance with regard to payroll related matters, please feel free to contact us either by phone or email. For our contact details select the link below.

Teachers' Pensions, Pay and Administration Branch contacts

1.When will my P60 be issued?

P60’s are issued at the end of May with details of all earnings and deductions for the previous tax year.

Back to top

2.I am a temporary teacher, when will I get paid?

Temporary teachers are paid on the twelfth working day of the month and are paid for all temporary days/hours worked in the previous month.

Back to top

3.I am a permanent/pro rata teacher, when will I get paid?

Permanent and pro-rata teachers are paid on the last working day of the month and they are paid for the current month worked.

Back to top

4.Who is my employer?

The main employers of schools within Northern Ireland are: The five Education and Library Boards, CCMS, the 16 Further and Higher Education Colleges and in some instances the Board of Governors of the School.  Teachers' Pensions, Pay & Administration Branch is a paying authority only.

Back to top

5.If I am off sick, what medical evidence (if any) am I required to provide?

• 1 – 7 days sick leave: Self certificate (CCU67/SC1) is required.
• 8 days onwards: Medical certificate (from doctor) is required.

Back to top

6.What is my sick leave/pay entitlement?

A teacher’s entitlement to sick leave/pay depends on the number of years service they have completed and the number of days they have been absent owing to illness in the current year, which shall be deemed to end on the 31st March.

Back to top

7.What is my maternity leave/pay entitlement?

New regulations regarding maternity leave/pay became effective in April 2007. All teachers, regardless of their service, are now entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave. Those teachers who meet all the requirements of the scheme are entitled to 39 weeks maternity salary which is payable at a rate of:

• 4 weeks @ Full Pay
• 2 weeks @ 9/10th’s Pay
• 12 weeks @ Half Pay
• 21 Weeks @ SMP Only

Back to top

8.  What is my adoption leave/pay entitlement?

New regulations regarding adoption leave/pay became effective in April 2007. Those teachers who meet all the requirements of the scheme are entitled to 52 weeks adoption leave and 39 weeks salary, which is payable at a rate of:

• 4 weeks @ Full Pay
• 2 weeks @ 9/10ths Pay
• 6 weeks @ Half Pay
• 27 weeks @ SAP Only

Back to top

9. What is my paternity leave/pay entitlement?

Amended regulations regarding paternity leave/pay became effective in April 2003. Those teachers who meet all the requirements of the scheme are entitled to up to 2 weeks paternity leave which is payable at the statutory paternity rate applicable at the time of your paternity leave or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less. This weekly rate is amended each April.  

(Please note some schools will award discretionary paternity leave for up to 3 days full pay, however the statutory rate will be reduced by 3/7ths in that week).

Back to top

10.How do I get a teachers reference number?

You should contact the GTCNI for further information on how to obtain a teachers reference number.

GTCNI can be contacted at (+0044) 90333390 or via their website gtcni.org.uk

Back to top

11.What rate of pay do I receive?

Teachers are paid on the ordinary pay scale (OPS), which ranges from M1 – M6.

Once a teacher reaches the maximum of the scale (M6) and remains on it for one year, they are eligible to apply for Threshold. (Performance Related Pay). If a teacher passes the threshold process they progress to the upper pay scale (UPS), which ranges from UPS1 – UPS3. Teachers are eligible to progress to the next point on the UPS scale once every two years if they pass the assessment. Principals and vice principals are paid on the leadership scale, which ranges from L1 – L41.

Back to top

12.What types of contracts are available to me?

• Full-time permanent - As the name suggests these teachers hold a full-time post and work 32.4 hours per week.

• Full-time permanent (Joint Appointment) - These teachers work 32.4 hours per week but serve in two schools.

• Pro rata (part time)/Job Share - These teachers are part time teachers who are employed for 12 months or more. They should have a set working pattern, where they work “X” number of hours per week, on the same days every week. Pro rata teachers may work in one or more schools. Apart from the set hours that they do each week, pro rata teachers can also work casual hours or days over and above this.

• Full time temporary 1/365th basis - These are temporary teachers who are appointed for a period of not less than one year, and who work 32.4 hours per week. The only difference between these teachers and full time permanent teachers is that they have an end date in their contract.

• Temporary 1/195 (or supply teacher) - This is a teacher who works casual days, weeks, and months and is paid at a daily rate for the days they work. (The Branch is notified via Form TR140 from the school for payment of these days).

• Part time teacher - This again is a supply teacher who is paid for the casual hours that they work. (The Branch is notified via Form TR141H from the school for payment of these hours).

Back to top

13. I am a citizen from within the European Union, how do I obtain Qualified Teacher Status in Northern Ireland?

Click on the link below for qualification information.

Qualified to teach in Northern Ireland

Back to top

14. I am a citizen outside the European Union, how do I obtain Qualified Teacher Status in Northern Ireland?

Click on the link below for qualification information.

Qualified to teach in Northern Ireland

Back to top

15. Would you please advise, which forms I should complete to claim incremental credit for previous relevant industrial experience (Applicable to FE Applicants only) for the following scenarios:

1.If the company or business still exists

2.If the company or business no longer exists

3.Self-Employed

1.Form TR21 (PDF 137Kb) should be completed, signed by an accredited senior representative of the firm, and stamped with the firms authenticated stamp.

2.Form TR26FE (PDF 101Kb) should be completed when claiming recognition of employment where the employer has ceased to trade, or records have been destroyed. When completed, a solicitor or justice of the peace must sign it.

3.Form TR26FE (PDF 101Kb) should be completed when claiming recognition of self-employment and must when completed, be signed by a solicitor or justice of the peace.

Back to top

16. I have recently changed my name/address/bank details, who must I inform?

All changes with regard to a teachers name address or bank details must be notified to Teachers' Pensions, Pay and Administration Branch in writing.

These details cannot be accepted over the phone.

Back to top