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.
You can access appendices related to the document by using the links below:
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
Pay circulars
- 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
- Circular 2011/17 Rate of Pay for Prematurely Retired Teachers from 1 September 2011 issued to all schools on 19 August 2011. It sets out a new rate of pay effective from 1 September 2011 for prematurely retired teachers who are re-employed.
Threshold and upper pay scale (UPS) progression arrangements for 2023/24
The Employing Authorities issued a letter to schools outlining threshold arrangements from September 2023 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 2023 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.
Survey on tackling violence/abuse against teachers in schools
Employers issued a survey on violence/abuse against teachers in schools to a random selection of teachers in May 2010. The survey and resultant Policy Statement on tackling violence and abusive behaviour can be found on the following page: