Pay and conditons of service
In Northern Ireland agreement on teachers' pay and conditions of service is reached through the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools), Constitution PDF 66 KB which comprises the employing authorities/employer representatives, the Department of Education(DE) and the five recognised teachers' unions (Irish National Teachers' Organisation, National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, Ulster Teachers' Union, Association of Teachers and Lecturers, and National Association of Headteachers).
Following negotiations, the Department determines teachers' pay in accordance with the provisions of Article 69 (1) and (6) of the Education and Libraries Order 1986. In doing so it issues Pay Determinations/Circulars which give legal effect to salary changes.
Teachers' (Terms and Conditions of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 No. 267 (and Amendment Regulations 1988 No. 299) PDF 441 KB make provision as to the terms and conditions of employment of teachers in grant-aided schools and to peripatetic teachers. Other contractural changes, and agreed schemes and procedures, are normally issued by the employing authorities/employer representative bodies, and further advice on these issues is available directly from them.
In June 2002, the then Minister established an independent inquiry to make recommendations on the future arrangements for teachers' pay and conditions of service in Northern Ireland. The Inquiry has produced the following three reports:
- Interim Report - Principal and Vice-principal pay PDF 1.14 MB was published in November 2002, and accepted by the Teachers' Negotiating Committee.
- Final Report Part 1- Parity,Performance and Progression PDF 99 KB was published in June 2003, which, following agreement at the Teachers' Negotating Committee, resulted in the Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) Scheme PDF 120 KB which will inform pay progression for teachers, Principals and Vice-principals from September 2004 - this has now been updated with Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) Scheme - TNC 2007/02 PDF 74 KB.
- Final Report Part 2 - Improving Conditions, Raising Standards and Negotating Arrangements PDF 268 KB which was published in February 2004 and is currently being considered considered by the Teachers' Negotating Committee.
Employers issued a Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time Policy Statement TNC 2009/8 PDF 82 KB on 14 May 2009. An Equal Opportunities Policy TNC 2009/2 PDF 82 KB, A Joint Declaration of Protection TNC 2009/3 PDF 59 KB, A Flexible Working Scheme TNC 2009/6 PDF 217 KB and a Temporary Variation of Contract TNC 2009/7 PDF 108 KB issued to all schools on 10 April 2009. A Revised Job Share Scheme TNC 2009/4 PDF 632 KB, and Career Break Scheme TNC 2009/5 PDF 223 KB, issued on 10 April 2009. An Addendum to the Maternity Scheme on Statutory Leave Entitlement during Maternity Leave TNC 2009/1 PDF 27 KB also issued on 10 April 2009.
Employers issued a letter on an amendment to Teaching Allowances PDF 18 KB on 9 June 2009. The Guidance for Boards of Governors on the Formulation and Implementation of Salary Policy PDF 105 KB was amended accordingly.
Pay Scales
The current Teachers' Pay Scales are set out in Circular 2008/20 Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2008 PDF 74 KB.
The Employing Authorities issued a letter to schools PDF 25 KB outlining threshold arrangements from September 2009 which included:
They also issued a letter to schools PDF 15 KB outlining the Upper Pay Scale progression arrangements from September 2009 which included:
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