Workload and Directed Time Campaign

What is Directed Time?

Directed time is when teachers are directed by their head teacher to be at work and available for work. This is a maximum of 1,265 hours per academic year, spread over 190 days of teaching and five more non-teaching days. The 1,265 hours is a maximum — schools should allow a contingency to cover unexpected events. Teachers do have to work reasonable additional hours as necessary for preparation and assessment — but these hours cannot be directed by the head teacher. The statutory limit on directed time (1,265 hours) applies to teachers working under the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD). Some academies and free schools operate different working time provisions — check your contract of employment. Anyone can use the directed time calculator to work out their total directed time.

The following must be part of directed time: teaching time, PPA  time, supervision before and after sessions and at breaks (but not lunchtimes, when teachers can’t be required to do this), cover, parents evenings, after school meetings, INSET/CPD and anything else which teachers are “directed” to do and which requires their professional skills. The full list is in sections 51 & 52 of the STPCD. Directed time and the 1,265 max should be adjusted pro-rata for those working part-time. Go to the NEU website for more detailed advice on part-time workers neu.org.uk/part-time-pay-conditions. All schools should have a calendar of the activities which make up teachers’ directed time –consulted on with staff via trade unions.

NEU reps/members should ask their head or leadership team for the directed time calendars for both individuals and departments. These should reflect the school’s directed time calendar. Teachers can raise concerns about their directed time calendar at any point during the academic year. It is important that part-time teachers have access to directed time activities like training and staff meetings on days when they normally work in order to give them the same opportunities and involvement as full-time teachers.

Examples of Directed Time Calendars

Example of a Primary Teacher’s Directed Time Calendar
Example of a Secondary Teacher’s Directed Time Calendar

Reps, act now to win a Directed Time Calendar in your workplace

If you have no workplace rep, take up the role yourself and start working through the following steps!

  1. Organise a meeting of members to discuss directed time – A directed time calendar is a contractual right for teachers and there should be an annual discussion about the calendar that sets out the details of teaching staff working time in the forthcoming academic year.
  2. If this is something that doesn’t usually happen at your school, use the members meeting to agree that the rep/s will speak to the head about a DT calendar. Share the examples of calendars above.
  3. Meet with the head to ensure that a DT calendar with a maximum 1265 hours will be issued following consultation and any areas of concern will be discussed fully with the union.
  4. Meet again with members to discuss your head’s response and decide your next steps.
  5. If you have concerns about the calendar, use our Excel pro forma, available here, to calculate the hours of you and your colleagues.
  6. If you need any further support, contact your branch secretary.

Calculate your directed time

Click here to download the NEU’s Directed Time Calculator and check that you are working within the legal limit of 1265 hours per year.