What are my hours of duty?
Hours of duty are defined and specified by Determination 1 of 2026 — Attendance and Supervision, and
clarified in the Attendance and Student Supervision factsheet (2026). Both are available in the Teachers’ work section in the Member Portal.
The factsheet goes into further detail about consultation in developing the school supervision plan, conditions deemed reasonable for requiring a teacher to be on duty beyond the school day and what is deemed reasonable notice.
Members are advised to carefully read the Determination and factsheet and seek clarification from their Organiser or Professional Support, if any issues are encountered.
I am a primary teacher. How many hours am I required to teach face-to-face each week?
The Department’s Attendance and Student Supervision factsheet states that a primary school teacher may be required to teach face-to-face for 4 hours and 45 minutes each day.
“Over a week this equates to 21 hours and 45 minutes face-to-face teaching time per week for a full-time teacher, excluding RFF time,” the factsheet states.
Will I go back down the pay scale if I have an extended break in my teaching as a casual or temporary teacher?
No. Any teacher who is being paid a lower rate as a result of a break in service should contact Federation for advice on 1300 654 367.
If you gain work as a temporary teacher, you should be placed on the same band of the salary scale as you were on for your previous permanent or permanent part-time teaching position with the Department.
Backpay for salary determinations will only apply when made:
- within six months of receiving an
approval to teach; - within six months of becoming
permanent; or - for teaching service since approval
to teach was granted, or between
periods of employment with the
Department, from your date
of application.
There could be limited provision to recognise relevant industry experience in fields other than teaching, particularly where the teacher has been in a Department retraining scheme.
The Department does not recognise some overseas teaching experience.
Reference: Salary determination
Three new students have just enrolled in my class. How many students can I be asked to teach?
The Staffing Agreement 2024–2029 states: “Class sizes will be planned generally on the following
basis and will have regard to the needs of the school.”
Primary schools and primary departments of central schools
- Statewide average class sizes are 20 in kindergarten, 22 in year 1 and 24 in year 2
- No class need exceed 30 students for years 3–6
High schools and secondary departments of central schools
Years 7–10: The principal, in consultation with staff, is responsible for determining actual class sizes based on the curriculum needs of the school, student needs, community expectations, and the expertise of the teachers. Principals also take account of work health and safety issues when forming classes.
No class need exceed 30 students.
Practical classes years 7–10:
- The organisation of industrial technology, agriculture and visual arts on the basis that no class need exceed 20 students
- The organisation of food technology and textiles technology in years 7–10 on the basis that no class need exceed 24 students
- The organisation of technology (mandatory) classes in years 7–8 and design and technology (elective) classes in years 7–10 on the basis that no class need exceed 22 students
When forming classes, principals of secondary schools also take into account the following advice:
Years 11-12: No class need exceed 24 students.
Other schools: Class sizes not listed above will be determined by the principal in accordance with formulae current as at the commencement of this agreement.
If you have concerns after reading the information above, please contact your Federation Organiser or Professional Support on 1300 654 367.
A nearby school has an elected Health and Safety Representative (HSR) who has helped to sort out an issue with their staffroom facilities. Why doesn’t my school have an HSR?
Your school is not unusual. Despite the HSR position being created in NSW as part of the Work Health and Safety Act in 2011 for all workplaces, only around 8 per cent of public schools have an HSR. It may be a surprise, but the reason that most schools and TAFEs do not have an HSR is that the workers have not requested one.
What are the face-to-face teaching hours for a high school teacher?
The Attendance and Student Supervision factsheet states the Award provisions as follows:
Teachers (other than teachers in training, head teachers and deputy principals in high schools) may be required to teach the following periods (or their time equivalent):
| Classification | Teaching periods per week | Periods per week, as determined by the principal, for sport (refer to subclause 16.6) |
| Teachers in high schools | 28 | Up to 3 |
| Head teachers in high schools | 22 | Up to 3 |
| Deputy principals in high schools | 14 | Up to 3 |
A ‘period’ in a high or central school is defined in Clause 2.42 of the schools Award as a 40-minute teaching period.
Where schools have operational arrangements such as periods of a one-hour duration, cyclical timetables etc., the time equivalent or average number of minutes over the week, fortnight or cycle length must remain the same.
For information relating to teaching high school classes outside normal school hours, in lieu of duties, alternate periods and sport allocation please refer to Clauses 15–17 of the Award, which can be accessed at Awards and determinations.
Questions are answered by:
- Anthony Brereton, Officer attached to Casual Teachers
- Sam Clay, Deputy Secretary (Research, Industrial and Professional Support)
- Damian Purins, Work Health and Safety Officer
References
Teachers’ work section in the Member Portal
Attendance and Student Supervision factsheet
Salary determination
Staffing Agreement 2024–2029