The School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document 2008 has now been published onto Teachernet, although hard copies of the Document are available.

Summary of changes to Pay and Conditions

The main changes to the document are as follows:

	pay changes bringing in a 2.45% pay award to basic pay, upper pay scale, TLR's & SEN allowances.
	new arrangements for Excellent Teachers whereby such staff should be paid on a spot salary within a range rather than merely a spot salary. (See paragraphs 35 of Teachers Pay and Conditions Document but also the note below).
	standardisation of the method of calculating pay for part-time teachers (see MI Sheet 134/08) which has already given detailed guidance.
	a shortening of the unqualified teachers pay scale (from 10 points to six) to meet concerns on gender and age discrimination (see MI Sheet 134/08) which has already given detailed guidance.
	the heralding of changes to Threshold applications from September 2009 onwards, whereby teachers will be able to use evidence from Performance Management on their applications (see pages 149 and 150 of the Document).

Excellent Teachers

Where "Excellent Teachers'' are currently employed, there is a requirement to re-determine their salaries in line with the introduction of a pay range for this category of staff. The Document also describes safeguarding arrangements that would be required if the individual's salary is reduced.

However, we have noted that while a lower salary limit of £37,672 and an upper limit of £48,437 have been given, it is up to Governing Bodies to establish the appropriate salary range between those parameters. Given the delicate balance required to establish appropriate pay and differentials arrangements, we will be consulting Headteacher and Trade Unions with a view to establishing a Norfolk advisory scale, probably reflecting arrangement currently in place for Advanced Skills Teachers. If this is agreed, it would aim to provide a suitable range of pay points from which schools could choose to adopt a range of, say, five points.

Pay of Supply Teachers and those on Short Term Contracts.

Some Headteachers may have been aware of the intention to introduce from September 2008, arrangements to enable these staff to identify the holiday pay element of their pay, and may even have seen the preliminary detailed guidance. However, when the Teachers Pay and Conditions 2008 was issued, it became clear that these changes were not included. The Local Government Employers, which represents local authorities has advised us that ''the recommended changes to arrangements for calculating the pay of short-term teachers will be brought in through a later pay order". Although the Employee Services Centre had done much work to introduce the new arrangements, the introduction of revised arrangements for those on short term contracts (as opposed to Supply Teachers) by 1 September 2008 would have been problematic and therefore, for practical arrangements, this delay has been appreciated. We will, of course, keep you informed of developments.

Model Pay and Performance Management Policy

The changes this year are relatively minor in nature and should not prevent schools undertaking the Performance Management work required by half-term, in accordance with the existing pay policy. However, the above changes will be incorporated in a revised Pay and Performance Management Policy following consultation with the County Secretaries of the recognised Teaching and Support Trade Unions and a link to the revised Policy made available to you. We recognise, however, that a further revision will be required once the Modern Reward Strategy proposal has been agreed.

If you have any immediate queries or concerns, please contact Bob Hedley for assistance.