289.School teachers’ pay and conditions are determined under the provisions of the STPCA, and set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document which is updated as of September each year. Until 31 August 1999, the school teachers’ pay spine comprised 18 points, numbered 0 to 17. Two points were awarded for possession of a good honours degree, and points were awarded incrementally for years of experience up to a total of 9 points for both qualifications and experience. Points could also be awarded on the basis of other criteria. Newly qualified teachers normally started on point 0 or point 2, depending upon whether or not they were a good honours graduate.
290.With effect from 1 September 1999, point 0 was removed and the differential for good honours degrees reduced to 1 point for new entrants. Subsequently, the Department formed the view that the legal effect of the amendments was uncertain. The Department sought to remedy this by means of a remedial order, which took effect on 1 April 2000. However the Department believes that the order did not resolve the matter fully. This section now seeks to tidy up the way in which point 0 was removed in order to ensure that all teachers’ true lawful pay entitlement is clearly the entitlement intended in the 1999 and subsequent School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Documents. The provisions should work in practice by making no difference to teachers’ pay.