This is a question we are often asked:-
Are we required to pay part time teachers who have TLR’s, the full time TLR value despite them say only doing three days per week?
The answer depends on the proportion of the responsibility carried out by the employee, rather than their contracted hours. So, if a part timer has 100% of the responsibility they receive 100% of the TLR. It also means that a full-time teacher may be awarded a proportional TLR if the responsibility is shared with another teacher.
This is optional for this academic year and mandatory from 1st September 2026.
School teachers’ pay and conditions guidance 2025 states as follows:-
20.6. From 1st September 2025, relevant bodies may determine the value of any existing or new TLR1 and TLR2 payment, based on the proportion of the TLR the teacher is undertaking – i.e. the proportion of the full-time equivalent responsibility. Where a part-time teacher is taking on the responsibilities associated with a TLR1 or TLR 2, relevant bodies are no longer mandated to utilise the pro-rata principle (as defined at paragraph 40.1) when determining the value of the TLR1 or TLR 2 payment. Equally, a part-time TLR may be awarded to a full-time teacher where the responsibilities are being shared with another teacher. For the avoidance of doubt, relevant bodies must act fairly and appropriately when determining the value of a TLR1 or TLR2 payment. Please refer to Section 3, paragraph 50 for further guidance.
20.7. From 1st September 2026, it will become a requirement that relevant bodies determine the value of all existing and new TLR1 and TLR 2 payments based on the proportion of the TLR the teacher is undertaking – i.e. the proportion of the full-time equivalent responsibility.
20.8. The pro-rata principle does not apply to any TLR3 award.
This is what the Association of School and College Leaders guidance states:-
ASCL – Changes to teaching and learning responsibility payments (TLRs)
From September 2025, the STPCD no longer requires TLRs to be pro-rated in line with the contracted hours for part-time teachers. The value of any existing or new TLR1 or TLR2 payment may be based on the proportion of responsibility undertaken, that is, the proportion of the full-time responsibility. For example, a part-time teacher could be paid 100% of the TLR if they agree, by mutual consent, that they will fulfil all the job requirements, or a full-time teacher could be awarded a part-time TLR as part of a job share.
From September 2026, this will become a requirement, so while there is currently no requirement for schools to adopt this proportion of responsibilities-based calculation, schools will over the course of this academic year wish to consider the impact of this so that they are in a position to implement the new requirements from 1 September 2026.
ASCL encourages early adoption but reminds employers that the STPCD states that: “The responsibilities agreed should be capable of being undertaken within the normal hours of the part-time teacher concerned. The appropriate level of allowance payment and responsibilities should be agreed between the individual teacher and the employer.”
