Friern Barnet School Directed Time for Teachers Policy

Friern Barnet School
Directed Time for Teachers Policy
Last Reviewed: December 2011 Next Review: December 2012
Approved by: Finance and Resources Committee Date: 14.12.11

Rationale
Full-time teachers are to be available for work for 195 days in any school year.
Of these:
• 190 days are days on which a teacher may be required to teach pupils in addition to
carrying out other duties such as curriculum and pastoral management, attending
meetings, supervision etc. The employer/headteacher will specify and reasonably
allocate the duties to be performed, together with the times and the places where these
duties will be carried out.
• the remaining 5 days are allocated for in-service training and issues relating to
performance management, including professional development activities.
• 10% of the timetabled teaching time must be allocated for ‘planning and preparation
and assessment’ time.
All tasks and duties which are performed under the direction of the Headteacher count
towards a total of 1265 hours.
Directed time for each teacher must be planned carefully to prevent the possibility of the
1265 hours being used up within fewer than the 195 days when teachers must be available for
work.
If the 1265 hours are used up in fewer than the 195 days, the Headteacher will need to assess
whether the teacher must not undertake duties on one or more of the 195 days, in recognition
of the professional duties undertaken at other times.
For part-time teachers directed time will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
This has particular relevance to the deployment of the five non-contact or INSET days, some
of which can, subject to staff agreement, take place in ‘twilight sessions’ after school. For
example, a session beginning at the end of a school day at 3.30pm which continues until 6pm
or beyond could count as half a day’s INSET. Time spent in these sessions will accrue and
score against the 1265 hours. The teachers involved in these sessions cannot be required to
attend on all of the five non-contact days if such a requirement would mean exceeding the
1265 hours limit.
The 195 specified days do not have to be identical for all teachers in the school. If a variance
has been agreed with the teacher, individual arrangements must be made for the time to score
against the 1265 hour and 195 day limits. These limits may not be exceeded.
The Headteacher should monitor the allocation of directed time and of PPA time for each
teacher, to ensure that hours fall within the statutory requirements.
The Headteacher should provide, a directed time calendar, setting out teaching, PPA time,
leadership and management time and meetings commitments.
The Headteacher should review the allocation of 1265 hours each year, and ensure that an
updated calendar is provided to each teacher.
Non directed time
• Trips and visits unrelated to the curriculum or not specifically directed by the
Headteacher.
• Courses and meetings not specifically directed by the Headteacher.
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• Preparation and marking out of school hours.
Carrying out the Professional Duties of Teacher
A teacher is required to work, ‘such reasonable additional hours as may be needed to enable
him/her to discharge effectively his professional duties.’ The amount of time for professional
duties beyond the 1265 hours of directed time is decided by the teacher and not the
Headteacher or Governing Body. The teacher also decides where and when the number of
additional hours necessary to discharge such duties will be performed.
Classroom cover for absent colleagues
The National Agreement ‘Raising Standards and Tackling Workload’ introduced from
September 2004 a 38-hour annual limit on the amount of cover that teachers could undertake.
As from 1 September 2009 there is no longer an annual limit and teachers should now only
'rarely cover' for absent colleagues.
The Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group (WAMG) has produced guidance detailing
how schools should implement the rarely cover provision.
In effect it is left up to schools to determine the best cover solution for each individual
circumstance and staff should be aware that as a school we have worked hard over the past
few years towards successfully implementing the rarely cover agreement, as specified in the
STPCD.
It is important to remember that the ‘rarely cover’ does not mean ‘no cover’ and staff should
be aware that the school is committed to ensuring that teachers should only occasionally, if
necessary, be asked to provide cover in any school year.
Absence during the 1265 hours
Teachers cannot be required to make up any directed time not worked as a result of agreed
absence.
Work/Life Balance
All teachers employed under the terms and conditions of the School Teachers’ Pay and
Conditions (‘Burgundy Book’) are entitled to a work/life balance and a reasonable workload
that allows time to pursue activities outside work. Headteachers must therefore have regard to
teachers’ work/life balance and exercise their duty to maintain, for each teacher, a reasonable
balance between work carried out in school and home life. Governing Bodies must also have
regard to the work/life balance of the Headteacher.
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Outline of Directed Time Hours for Teachers
All Teachers
Occasions Minutes Total Hours Directed Time
School Day 8.30 - 3.30 (55 minute lunch) 190 365 69350 1155.83
INSET Days 5 300 1500 25
After School Duty 38 15 570 9.5
Performance Management Meetings 2 60 120 2 1192.33
After School Meetings
Faculty Meetings 8 60 480 8
Key Stage Meetings 6 60 360 6
House Meetings 6 60 360 6
Professional Learning Teams 6 60 360 6
NLP4L Meetings 2 75 150 2.5
Staff Meetings 3 60 180 3 31.5
Public Meetings
Parents' Evenings 5 180 900 15
Open Evening 1 180 180 3
KS3 and KS4 Presentation Evenings 2 120 240 4 22.00
Total 1245.83
Contingency 19.17
After School Meetings for Some Teachers
KSM/Heads of Faculty 6 60 360 6
Heads of House 6 60 360 6
SSM Meetings 12 60 720 12
NQT Meetings 17 60 1020 17
New Staff 2 60 120 2
Raising Achievement Meetings 3 60 180 3
Year 2/3 Teachers Programme 5 60 300 5
Incoming Year 7 Transfer Evening 1 120 120 2
Year 7 Settling In Evening 1 120 120 2
JNC Meetings 3 60 180 3 58.00
Following consultation with the local union representatives it has been agreed that all after school
meetings will start at 3.45 pm. If all staff are present at the meeting prior to this time, than the
meeting can finish earlier.
It is recognised and appreciated that many colleagues work at many other times throughout the
year out of goodwill and a sense of professional pride and responsibility.
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