Directed time is when teachers are directed by their head teacher to be available for work.
- This is a maximum of 1,265 hours per academic year, spread over 195 days.
- Teachers can be required to teach for 190 days, the maximum length of the pupil year.
- Teachers can be required to work a further five non-teaching (usually inset) days. These hours count towards the 1,265 hour limit.
- Part-time teachers work the prorated equivalent according to the fraction of full-time pay they receive - use our directed time calculator.
Ensuring a directed time calendar, negotiated by NEU members, is in place is the first step towards tackling teacher workload at your school. A directed time calendar is important to ensure teachers’ hours are reasonable and is standard practice within the profession.