Overview of teachers' terms and conditions

Teachers' pay and conditions

In Northern Ireland agreement on teachers' pay and conditions of service is reached through the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) {commonly known as the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC)), 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, National Education Union, 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) (and the Amendment Regulations of 1988, No. 299) 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.

Salary policy guidance

This area contains guidance issued by the employing authorities/employer representatives on salary policy.

• Guidance to Boards of Governors on the formulation and implementation of salary policy 2008 (Amended - October 2024)

You can access appendices related to the document by using the links below:

• Appendices 1 - 5
• Appendices 6 - 9

Method of Calculation of Additional Days and Hours for Part Time Teachers

This area contains guidance on the correct method of calculation of additional days and hours for part time teachers

• Circular 2023/10 - Method of calculation of additional days and hours for part time teachers

Pay circulars

• Circular 2025/05 – Teachers’ Pay and Allowance from 1 September 2024
• Circular 2024/07 - Rate of Pay - Prematurely Retired Teachers - This circular sets out a new rate of pay effective from 1 September 2023 for prematurely retired teachers who are re-employed.
• Circular 2024/06 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2023
• Circular 2024/05 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2022
• Circular 2024/04 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2021
• Circular 2021/11 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2020
• Circular 2021/10 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2019
• Circular 2020/04 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2018
• Circular 2020/03 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2017

Threshold and upper pay scale (UPS) progression arrangements for 2024/25

The Employing Authorities issued a letter to schools outlining threshold arrangements from September 2024 which includes:

• A quick guide
• Guidance notes
• Application form
• Principal's record form
• Feedback to teachers form
• TR268 (UPS1) form
• Handbook for threshold assessment

They also issued a letter to schools outlining the Upper Pay Scale progression arrangements from September 2024 which included:

• Guidance on UPS2 and application form
• TR268 (UPS2)
• Guidance on UPS3 and application form
• TR268 (UPS3)

Policy for teaching staff – acting up appointments and honoraria payments

From 1 September 2011, an acting-up appointments and honoraria payments policy has been in place in respect of teachers temporarily undertaking acting-up appointments or additional duties and responsibilities for which an honorarium payment may be made from schools’ delegated budgets.