| SPOTLIGHT |
The Burgundy Book, a handbook which sets out the conditions of service for school teachers in England and Wales, has been updated for the first time in “over two decades”.
The handbook is a national agreement between the five teacher unions and the National Employers’ Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST).
Its main provisions relate to notice periods, sick leave and pay, and maternity leave and pay.
The handbook is relevant to around half a million teachers and is “an essential reference for all schools – both maintained and academies – with the majority choosing to incorporate the agreement into their teachers’ contracts of employment”, said NEOST.
The organisation said the 2023 edition updates legislation and clarifies terminology “without amending the application of any of the terms and conditions of employment contained in the Burgundy Book”.
The National Education Union (NEU), alongside the other teacher unions, welcomed the publication, noting that the handbook has been updated to reflect “modern terminology, accuracy and changes to legislation since 2000”.
The Burgundy Book states that the local authority is the employer of teachers in community, voluntary controlled and special agreement schools, and is the body which determines the majority of their conditions of service.
Cllr Roger Phillips, Chairman of the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST), said: “We are delighted to announce an updated and refreshed Burgundy Book so that it is fit for purpose in 2023. This sets the conditions of service for thousands of teachers across England and Wales.
“All schools and councils are ambitious to improve the life chances of all our children and young people in their communities.
“They understand the key role they play as employers of teachers and leaders in supporting a national collectively agreed framework which provides both a fair and transparent set of conditions to support the attraction, recruitment and retention of good teachers and school leaders.”
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union (NEU) said: “The Burgundy Book is essential for all schools and the vast majority of academies who have adopted the agreement into their teachers’ contracts of employment. We are pleased that this work is now complete, and the Burgundy Book will maintain its significance for the foreseeable future.”
Lottie Winson
