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School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1991

1991 CHAPTER 49

An Act to make provision with respect to the remuneration and other conditions of employment of school teachers; and for connected purposes.

[25th July 1991]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Establishment of review body to consider statutory conditions of employment of school teachers.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 Orders relating to statutory conditions of employment.

(1) Where, following the reference of any matters to them under section 1 above, the review body have made a report, the Secretary of State may, after consulting—

(a) such associations of local education authorities as appear to him to be concerned and any local education authority with whom consultation appears to him to be desirable,

(b) such bodies representing the interests of governing bodies of foundation, voluntary and foundation special schools as appear to him to be concerned, and

(c) such bodies representing school teachers as appear to him to be concerned,

make provision by order giving effect to the recommendations of the review body, with or without modification, or making such other provision with respect to the matters referred to the review body as he thinks fit.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) An order under this section is in the following provisions of this Act referred to as a “pay and conditions order”, and such an order shall either—

(a) contain the provision to be made; or

(b) refer to provisions set out in a document published in accordance with the order and direct that those provisions shall have effect or, as the case may be, be amended in accordance with the order.

(4) A pay and conditions order may, in particular, as regards the statutory conditions of employment of school teachers do all or any of the following—

(a) confer discretion on the local education authority or, . . . on the governing body of the school with respect to any matter . . .;

(b) make provision as to the aggregate amount of allowances payable to teachers in a school;

(c) set lower and upper limits on the number or proportion of teachers in a school to be paid on specified scales or who are at any specified time to be paid any specified allowance;

(d) provide for the designation of schools in relation to which special provisions apply;

(e) provide for the determination of any questions arising as to the interpretation or application of the provisions set out or referred to in the order;

(f) make provision which is retrospective, but not so as to require the reduction of a teacher’s remuneration in respect of a past period or so as to alter for any past period any other statutory condition of employment to the detriment of a teacher;

(g) provide that, to the extent specified in the order, matters may be settled by agreement between, or in a manner agreed between, teachers and local education authorities in accordance with the order ;

(h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Without prejudice to his power to make a pay and conditions order by virtue of subsection (1) above, after consulting the associations, authorities and other bodies referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) above . . ., the Secretary of State may make a pay and conditions order by virtue of this subsection if—

(a) it appears to the Secretary of State, following consultation with the chairman (or, in his absence, the deputy chairman) of the review body, that the provision proposed to be made by the order is not of so significant a nature that the matter to which it relates should be referred to the review body under section 1 above; and

(b) it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to make the provision in question.

(6) Subject to sections 3 and 3A below and to any amendment or revocation by a later pay and conditions order, the effect of a pay and conditions order is that,—

(a) so far as it relates to remuneration, the remuneration of school teachers to whom the order applies shall be determined, and paid to school teachers by local education authorities . . . in accordance with the scales and other provisions set out or referred to in the order; and

(b) so far as it relates to other statutory conditions of employment, the provisions set out or referred to in the order shall have effect as terms of the contracts of employment of school teachers to whom the order applies.

(7) Subject to sections 3 and 3A below, so far as concerns his statutory conditions of employment, the contract of employment of a school teacher shall contain no terms other than those which have effect by virtue of a pay and conditions order.

(8) Without prejudice to section 14 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (power to make an order implies a power, exercisable in the same manner etc , to revoke or amend a previous order made under that power) a pay and conditions order made by virtue of subsection (1) above may revoke or amend, or may be revoked or amended by, a pay and conditions order made by virtue of subsection (5) above.

(9) A pay and conditions order shall be made by statutory instrument and,—

(a) if the order gives effect without any material modification to recommendations of the review body or is made by virtue of subsection (5) above, the order shall contain a statement that it does so or, as the case may be, is so made; and

(b) in any other case, the statutory instrument by which the order is made shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

3 Special provisions as to schools in education action zones.

(1) A pay and conditions order shall not apply to the statutory conditions of employment of the school teachers in a participating school the governing body of which—

(a) have, by notice to the Secretary of State, made an application for exemption; and

(b) pursuant to that application are for the time being exempted from subsections (6) and (7) of section 2 above by virtue of an order under subsection (4) below.

(2) Before making an application under subsection (1) above, the governing body of the participating school concerned shall consult the school teachers employed at the school with respect to the proposed application.

(3) A notice of application under subsection (1) above shall specify a date, at least three months after the date of the notice, with effect from which the governing body of the participating school concerned intend to make their own provision as to the statutory conditions of employment of the school teachers employed at the school.

(4) On receipt of a notice of application under subsection (1) above the Secretary of State may, by statutory instrument, make an order—

(a) naming the school; and

(b) specifying, as the date with effect from which, by virtue of the order, subsections (6) and (7) of section 2 above are not to apply, the date specified in the notice of application or such other date as may be agreed between the governing body and the Secretary of State.

(5) Where by virtue of an order under subsection (4) above a pay and conditions order ceases to apply in relation to any school, the statutory conditions of employment of the school teachers employed at the school shall be—

(a) such as may be determined by the governing body, or

(b) so far as the governing body have not made any determination with respect to any such conditions of employment, those having effect under the order immediately before it ceased to apply;

and (so far as necessary) the local education authority shall give effect to any such determination of the governing body.

(6) In this section “ participating school ” means one of the schools for the time being included in an order under section 10(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 establishing an education action zone.

3A Special provisions for teachers on transfer of employment.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a community, foundation or voluntary or community or foundation special school is established in place of an independent school in pursuance of proposals published under section 28 or 31 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, and

(b) a school teacher employed to teach at that independent school becomes employed by the local education authority or (as the case may be) the governing body in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

(2) A pay and conditions order shall not apply to the statutory conditions of employment of such a teacher unless he gives notice in writing to the new employer that the order is to so apply.

(3) Where the governing body of a foundation, voluntary aided or foundation special school receive notice given under subsection (2) above, they shall inform the local education authority.

4 Financial provisions.

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any expenses of the Secretary of State under this Act and any increase attributable to this Act in the sums so payable under any other Act.

5 Interpretation, orders and application of provisions of Education Acts.

(1) In this Act—

and where any other expression used in this Act is defined for the purposes of the Education Act 1996 or the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, it shall have the same meaning in this Act as in that Act. .

(2) A person employed as a teacher in an establishment maintained by a local authority in the exercise of a social services function is not a school teacher for the purposes of this Act.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument provide that, with effect from the date on which the order comes into force or such later date as may be specified in or determined under the order,—

(a) any payment or other benefit specified in the order is, or as the case may be is not, to be regarded as remuneration; or

(b) any matter is, or as the case may be is not, to be regarded as falling within the professional duties or working time of school teachers.

(4) An order under any provision of this Act may—

(a) make different provision for different cases, including different provision for different areas; and

(b) contain such incidental, supplemental or transitional provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(5) In sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996 (powers of Secretary of State in relation to functions of certain bodies under that Act), any reference to that Act includes a reference to this Act.

6 Citation, repeals, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be cited as the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1991.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) This Act has effect in place of the Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1987 and, accordingly, the enactments in Schedule 2 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

(4) This Act, except paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act (House of Commons disqualification), extends to England and Wales only; and that paragraph extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.

(5) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and, without prejudice to section 5(4) above, different days may be so appointed for different provisions and for different purposes.

SCHEDULES

Section 1.

SCHEDULE I The Review Body

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Section 6.

SCHEDULE 2 Enactments repealed

Chapter Short title Extent of repeal
1987 c. 1. The Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1987. The whole Act.
1988 c. 40. The Education Reform Act 1988. Section 46(1).In Schedule 12, paragraphs 38 and 39.
Status: School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1991 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1991 (1991/49)

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Status of this instrument

footnotecommentarytransitional and savingsin force statusrelated provisionsgeo extentinsert/omitsource countin force adj
C1Act modified: (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35 , s. 69(5) (with s. 155(11) ); S.I. 1994/507 , art.3 ; and (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56 , ss. 232(5) , 583(2) (with ss. 1(4) , 561 , 562 , Sch. 39 )
C2Act applied: (1.4.1994) by S.I. 1994/653 , reg. 42(1) , Sch. Pt.I ; (9.5.1994) by S.I. 1994/1084 , reg. 8(1) , Sch. 2 Pt.I
C3S. 2(6)(7) excluded: (1.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1976 , art. 2 ; (1.9.1995) by S.I. 1995/2087 , art. 2
E1Act extends to England and Wales only, except Sch. 1 para. 5 which extends to the whole of the United Kingdom see s. 6(4)
F1Act repealed (1.10.2002 as regards s. 1 and Sch. otherwise prosp.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32) , { ss. 130}, 216(2), {Sch. 22 Pt. 1}; S.I. 2002/2439 , art. 2text repealed prospectively or the amendment may be in effect for limited purposes, see the commentary.repealed
F2Act repealed (1.10.2002 as regards s. 1 and the Schedule and otherwise prosp.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32) , ss. 130 , 216(2) , Sch. 22 Pt. 1 ; S.I. 2002/2439 {art. 2}text repealed prospectively or the amendment may be in effect for limited purposes, see the commentary.repealed
F3Words in s. 2(1)(b) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 26(a) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F4S. 2(2) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 para. 26(b) , Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F5Words in s. 2(3) substituted (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 26(c) ; S.I. 1998/2212 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 Pt. I (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F6Words in s. 2(4)(a) repealed (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 , para. 26(d)(i) , Sch. 31 ; S.I. 1998/2212 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 Pt. I (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) )this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F7Words in s. 2(4)(a) repealed (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 para. 26(d)(i) , Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1998/2212 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 Pt.Ithis amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F8Words in s. 2(4)(g) inserted (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 26(d)(ii) ; S.I. 1998/2212 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 Pt. I (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F9S. 2(4)(h) repealed (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 para. 26(d)(iii) , Sch. 31 ; S.I. 1998/2212 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 Pt. I (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) )this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F10Words in s. 2(5) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 para. 26(e) , Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F11Words in s. 2(6)(7) substituted (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35 , s. 307(1) , Sch. 19 para. 161 ; S.I. 1994/507 , art. 4 , Sch. 2 and (1.11.1996) by virtue of 1996 c. 56 , ss. 582(1) , 583(2) , Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 101(1)(2) (with ss. 1(4) , 561 , 562 , Sch. 39 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F12Words in s. 2(6)(a) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1)(3) , Sch. 30 para. 26(f) , Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F13S. 3 substituted (1.9.1998) by 1998 c. 31 , s.13 (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) and with saving in Sch. 32 Pt. II para. 7 ); S.I. 1998/2048 , art.3this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F14S. 3A (which was inserted (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35 , s. 289 ; S.I. 1994/507 , art. 4 , Sch. 2 ) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56 , ss. 582(1) , 583(2) , Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 101(3) (with ss. 1(4) , 561 , 562 , Sch. 39 )this amendment (text inserted, substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted, substituted
F15S. 3A(1) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 27(a) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F16Words in s. 3A(3) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 27(b) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F17S. 5 sidenote substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 28(3) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F18Words in s. 5(1) substituted (1.6.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 28(2)(a) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/1016 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 ; S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F19S. 5 : definition of "school which has a delegated budget" omitted (1.4.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/638 , reg. 3omitted
F20Words in s. 5(1) substituted (1.6.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31 , s. 140(1) , Sch. 30 para. 28(2)(c) (with ss. 138(9) , 144(6) ); S.I. 1999/1016 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 ; S.I. 1999/2323 , art. 2(1) , Sch.1this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F21Words in s. 5(5) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56 , ss. 582(1) , 583(2) , Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 101(4)(b) (with ss. 1(4) , 561 , 562 , Sch. 39 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F22S. 6(2) repealed (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56 , ss. 582(2)(3) , 583(2) , Sch. 38 Pt.I , Sch. 39 (with ss. 1(4) , 561 , 562 , Sch. 39 )this amendment (text repealed) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.repealed
F23Act repealed (1.10.2002 as regards s. 1 and the Schedule and otherwise prosp.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32) , ss. 130 , 216(2) , Sch. 22 Pt. 1 ; S.I. 2002/2439 , art. 2text repealed prospectively or the amendment may be in effect for limited purposes, see the commentary.repealed
I1Act wholly in force at 4.12.1992 see s. 6(5)
I2S. 2 wholly in force: s. 2(1)-(6)(8) in force at 6.3.1992 by S.I. 1992/532 , art. 3 (with art. 4 ); S. 2(9) in force at 30.3.1992 by S.I. 1992/988 , art. 2 ; s. 2(7) in force at 4.12.1992 by S.I. 1992/3070 , art. 2 .this amendment (text ) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.
I3S. 4 wholly in force at 22.8.1991 see s. 6(5) and S.I. 1991/1874 , art. 2
I4S. 5 wholly in force at 22.8.1991 see s. 6(5) and S.I. 1991/1874 , art. 2
I5S. 6 wholly in force: S. 6(1)(2)(4)(5) in force at 22.8.1991 see s. 6(5) and S.I. 1991/1874 , art. 2 ; s. 6(3) in force at 6.3.1992 by S.I. 1992/532 , art. 3 .
I11Sch. 2 wholly in force at 6.3.1992 see s. 6(5) and S.I. 1992/532 , art. 3 .
M11978 c. 30 .
M21996 c. 56 .
M31987 c. 1 .
P1S. 6(5) power exercised (15.8.1991): 22.8.1991 appointed for specified provisions by S.I. 1991/1874 ;
Defined TermSection/ArticleIDScope of Application
contract of employments. 5legTermG9Zkhtgz
participating schools. 3legTermIwPxrBRM
pay and conditions orders. 2pay_and_co_rt16f48
pay and conditions orders. 5legTermVXSKHNLS
school teachers. 5legTermQNO8Elgt
statutory conditions of employments. 5legTermqI3DfExB
the review bodys. 5legTerm7omBN0mt
Changes that affect Made by
Sort descending by Changed Legislation Sort descending by Year and Number Changed Provision Type of effect Sort descending by Affecting Legislation Title Sort descending by Year and Number Affecting Provision Sort descending by Changes made to website text Note
School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991 1991 c. 49 specified amended provision(s) Commencement Order The Education Act 2002 (Commencement No.6 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2003 2003 No. 1667 art. 2 - 5 Not yet
commencement order for 2002 c. 32
School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991 1991 c. 49 specified amended provision(s) Commencement Order The Education Act 2002 (Commencement No.5 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2003 2003 No. 1115 art. 2 3 Not yet
commencement order for 2002 c. 32

    Status of changes to instrument text

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