Public sector

Public sector

This topic provides guidance on some of the key employment issues that may be encountered when advising employers and employees in the public sector.

Education

According to the Office for National Statistics, in March 2024, the number of people in employment in public sector education was 1.499 million.

The pay and the other terms and conditions of employment of teachers at maintained schools (but not at academy schools) are governed by Part 8 of the Education Act 2002 (EA 2002) as amended by the Education Act 2011 (EA 2011) and the statutory School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document, which is altered and reissued about once a year (see: School teachers' pay and conditions).

Practice Note: Teachers and staff in maintained schools explains that depending on the type of school, the employer of the school’s teaching and non-teaching staff will be the local authority, or the school governing body, or the corporation which runs the school. The Practice Note also examines:

•
how the performance of teachers at maintained schools is appraised
•
qualification requirements
•
staff at faith schools
•
safeguarding requirements

Teachers and

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Employment News

Spain can’t use immunity to block translators bias case

Law360: Spain cannot rely on state immunity to overturn a translator's harassment and discrimination claim, the Court of Appeal has ruled, finding that the conduct complained of was not part of a governmental activity.

HMCTS announces delay in new ET practice directions implementation

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has announced a delay in the implementation of new Practice Directions for Employment Tribunals (ET) in England, Wales, and Scotland. In an email circulated to national user group members, HMCTS advised that the Practice Directions, originally scheduled to coincide with the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2025 on 6 January 2025, are now expected later in January 2025. The directions will introduce changes to the presentation of claims, responses, and statutory appeals, including restrictions on email submissions of ET3 response forms.

Lawyers warn skeletal zero-hours contract ban may backfire

Law360: A proposed reform to crack down on exploitative zero-hours contracts is so vaguely drafted that it is unworkable and risks backfiring on its aim to provide more stability for workers, lawyers and industry groups say.

ET Presidents explain how to approach existing Practice Directions and Presidential Guidance in light of new ET procedure rules

Employment analysis: Judge Barry Clarke, the President for the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales), and Judge Susan Walker, the President for the Employment Tribunals (Scotland), have published a joint letter, dated 18 December 2024, concerning the interaction between the current Practice Directions and Presidential Guidance documents and the new Employment Tribunal Rules 2024, which take effect on 6 January 2025.