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  • Teachers' pay common issues

    Topics:
    • Teaching staff, 
    • Teachers' pay

    Teachers' pay encompassing sickness, salary scales, tax information, maternity entitlement, paternity entitlement, contracts available, how to report a change in circumstances and how to get a Teacher's Reference Number.

    Salary

    Teachers are paid on the ordinary pay scale (OPS), which ranges from M2 – M6.

    Once a teacher reaches the maximum of the scale (M6) and remains there for one year, they are eligible to apply for Threshold. (Performance Related Pay). A teacher must pass the threshold process, assessed by their Principal to 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.

    Principals and vice principals are paid the leadership scale, which ranges from L1 – L43.

    • Circular 2024-06 - Teachers' Pay and Allowances from 1 September 2023

    Tax information

    P60’s are viewd online self-service at the end of May with details of all earnings and deductions for the previous tax year.

    Details of payment

    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.

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

    Employers of teachers in NI

    Teachers' Pay Team is a paying authority who have responsibility for processing payroll for the main employers of teachers in Northern Ireland They are:

    • The Education Authority
    • CCMS
    • Board of Governors of Grant Maintained Integrated Schools

    Sickness absence

    All sick absences must be certified.

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

    Sick leave/pay

    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 ends on the 31 March.

    Length of serviceWork days at full pay rateWork days at half pay rate
    Less than 4 months250
    4 months to 1 year2550
    2nd year5050
    3rd year7575
    4th year100100

    Maternity leave/pay entitlement

    All teachers, regardless of their service, are 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:

    Length of service Entitlement
    4 weeksfull pay
    2 weeks90% pay
    12 weeks50% pay
    21 weeksSMP only

    For further guidance on statutory maternity pay, visit the following page on GOV.UK:

    • Maternity pay leave

    Adoption leave/pay entitlement

    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:

    Length of serviceEntitlement
    4 weeksfull pay
    2 weeks90% pay
    6 weeks50% pay
    27 weeksSAP only

    For further guidance on statutory adoption pay, visit the following page on GOV.UK:

    • Adoption pay leave

    Paternity leave/pay entitlement

    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, for further guidance on statutory paternity pay, visit the following page on GOV.UK:

    • Paternity pay leave

    (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).

    Teachers reference number

    To obtain a teachers reference number you should contact the GTCNI at (+0044) 90333390 or via their website gtcni.org.uk.

    Entitlement to holiday pay for temporary teachers

    Holiday pay is included in your daily rate of pay calculated as annual salary over 195 working days.

    Contracts available

    Full time permanent

    Hold a full-time post and work 32.4 hours per week

    Full time permanent (joint appointment)

    Works 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. Must 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

    Pro rata teachers may work casual hours or days over and above the set hours agreed

    Full time temporary 1/365 basis

    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 (substitute teacher)

    This is a teacher who works casual days, weeks, and months

    Paid at a daily rate for the days worked

    Part time teacher

    A substitute teacher who is paid for the casual hours that they work

    Change of circumstances

    For security purposes details cannot be accepted over the telephone. All changes with regard to name, address or bank details must be notified in writing

    For further information or assistance regarding payroll matters please contact us.

    Related content

    • Acting-up appointments and honoraria payments
    • Guidance on teachers' pay
    • Independent Review of Teacher Workload
    • LTA (Lifetime Allowance)
    • Pay circulars
    • Teachers' Pay & Pensions Team - Privacy Notice (effective from 25 May 2018)
    • Teachers' Pay Agreement 2024-25
    • Teachers’ Pay Agreement 2021-23
    • Useful forms for teachers
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