Specialist Teacher Allowance and Specialist Classroom Teacher Allowance
Learn about the Specialist Teacher and Specialist Classroom Teacher Allowance, which is paid to area school specialist teachers and secondary school specialist classroom teachers who provide professional development, guidance, mentoring and induction to other staff.
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To be considered for the Specialist Teacher and Specialist Classroom Teacher Allowance, you must meet the eligibility criteria and follow the application process described on this page.
Area School Specialist Teacher
If you’re appointed as an area school specialist teacher you’ll be paid an allowance and allocated a certain number of hours per week for your duties. Details are set out in clause 2.15 of the collective agreement.
Clause 2.15 – Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Specialist teacher requirements
To be appointed as a specialist teacher you must:
- be a permanently appointed, registered teacher, full- or part-time, with a significant classroom teaching load.
- have at least 6 years’ teaching experience (in New Zealand or overseas).
- have achieved the experienced classroom teacher standards, or overseas equivalent, for at least the last 3 years.
Guidelines for the appointment of Specialist Teachers (ST) in Area Schools [DOC, 710 KB]
If you don’t meet the criteria in your employment agreement you can still be appointed as a specialist teacher. Your school would need to get official agreement (concurrence) from the Ministry of Education.
For further information email:
employment.relations@education.govt.nz
Specialist teacher payments and allowances
If you’re appointed as a specialist teacher, you’re eligible for:
- an allowance of $5,000 per annum from 28 January 2020 in a school with up to 100 students. To ensure you receive this allowance your school must complete the Specialist Classroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher Application form below.
- an allowance of $10,000 per annum from 28 January 2020 in a school with more than 100 students. To ensure you receive this allowance your school must complete the Specialist Classroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher Application form below.
- reimbursement of study fees of up to $1,000 a year for 2 years, for study towards relevant post-graduate qualifications when you’re first appointed as a specialist teacher. You need to apply for this reimbursement using the reimbursement form below.
Specialist Classroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher Application form [DOCX, 52 KB]
Note that you can’t also have permanent units added to your salary, although you can keep 1 fixed-term unit if you’re continuing with a specific responsibility.
Specialist teacher allocation of hours per week
You’ll be allocated a certain number of hours per week for your duties.
- A school with up to 100 students has 2 hours a week of specialist teacher time.
- A school with more than 100 students has 4 hours a week of specialist teacher time.
This time is in addition to your usual non-contact time.
Secondary School Specialist Classroom Teacher
If you’re appointed as a secondary school specialist classroom teacher, you’ll be paid an allowance, and allocated a certain number of hours per week for your duties. Details are set out in clause 3.8B of the collective agreement.
Clause 3.8B – Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Specialist classroom teacher requirements
To be appointed as a specialist classroom teacher you must:
- be a permanently appointed, registered teacher, full- or part-time, with a significant classroom teaching load
- have at least 6 years’ teaching experience (in New Zealand or overseas)
- have achieved the experienced classroom teacher standards, or overseas equivalent, for at least the last 3 years.
If you don’t meet the criteria in your employment agreement, you can still be appointed as a specialist classroom teacher. Your school would need to get official agreement (concurrence) from the Ministry of Education.
For further information email:
employment.relations@education.govt.nz
Specialist classroom teacher payments and allowances
If you’re appointed as a specialist classroom teacher you’re eligible for:
- an allowance of $10,000 per annum from 28 January 2020. To ensure you receive this allowance your school must complete the Specialist Classroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher application form below.
- reimbursement of study fees of up to $1,000 a year for 2 years, for study towards relevant postgraduate qualifications when you’re first appointed as a specialist classroom teacher. You need to apply for this reimbursement using the reimbursement form below.
Note that you can’t also have permanent units added to your salary, although you can keep 1 fixed-term unit if you’re continuing with a specific responsibility.
Specialist Classroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher Application form [DOCX, 52 KB]
Specialist classroom teacher allocation of hours per week
You’ll be allocated a certain number of hours per week for your duties.
- A school with up to 1,200 students has 4 hours a week of specialist classroom teacher time.
- A school with more than 1,200 students has 8 hours a week of specialist classroom teacher time.
This time is in addition to your usual non-contact time.
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