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Key Points

  • There were more vacancies in November 2021 than in the previous year, with 1,711 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2020/21, 1,336 (78.1%) of which had been filled by November 2021.

  • The average number of days lost per teacher due to sickness, in all schools was 10.1. This represents an increase of 0.8 days from 2017/18.

  • The total number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences for all teachers was 107,294.

  • Teacher substitution costs have increased from £83.6 million to £100.7 million.

  • The number of substitution days worked by Prematurely Retired Teachers has has risen from 1,991 days in 2020/21 to 3,379 days in 2021/22. This represents 0.6% of the total days worked, compared to 4.4% in 2012/13.


Introduction

The purpose of this statistical bulletin is to provide analysis of the latest annual data collections relating to teacher vacancies, teacher sickness absence (excluding voluntary grammar) and teacher substitution (excluding voluntary grammar) in grant-aided schools in 2021/22. This year data on teacher absences due to COVID-19 have also been included.

The information collected throughout this process is used by policy branches within the Department of Education to inform education workforce policy. The data are also used to respond to Assembly questions.

All figures referred to are included in the main body of the text. All tables can be downloaded as excel or csv files in the section List of tables.

Section 1: Teacher Vacancies

Figure 1 - Filled and unfilled vacancies by school type November 2021

  • Figure 1 shows the total number of teacher vacancies at the end of 2020/21 and the proportions which were filled or unfilled by November 2021. There were 1,711 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2020/21, 1,336 (78.1%) of which had been filled by November 2021. This compares with 752 of 1,153 (65.2%) vacancies filled the year previous.

  • There was a larger proportion of unfilled vacancies in nursery, primary and preparatory departments of grammar schools than in post primary schools.

  • The highest proportion of unfilled vacancies was in Special schools, with 35.5% of vacancies unfilled by November 2021. Tables 1 and 2 outline the teacher vacancy data in more detail.

Section 2. Teacher Sickness Absence

The level of sickness absence during 2020/21 may have been affected by school closures due to COVID-19 and because COVID-19 related absences were being recorded separately and not included within sickness absence on the Teachers’ Pay and Pensions System for most of the year. Figures for 2021/22 do include sickness absences due to COVID-19 but do not include absences due to the 10 day isolation period for COVID-19 or any other COVID-19 related absence. See note 18 in notes to readers.

Figure 2 - Average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher 2021/22

  • Figure 2 shows the average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher, in all schools was 10.1. The largest average number of days lost due to sickness was in peripatetic units at 15.4 and the lowest average number of days lost due to sickness was in grammar schools (excluding voluntary grammar) with an average 5.6 days (Tables 3 and 5).

Figure 3 - Average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher 2017/18 - 2021/22

  • Figure 3 shows the trend in sickness absence since 2017/18. The number of working days lost per teacher from 2017/18 to 2019/20 remained almost constant, alternating between 9.3 days and 9.5 days each year. Schools saw lower levels of absence in 2020/21 (6.5 days) than in the previous three years, although these figures may have been affected by school closures and because sickness absences caused by COVID-19 were recorded separately. In 2021/22, when sickness absences due to COVID-19 were included, schools have seen a rise in absence to 10.1 days. Overall average number of working days lost per teacher due to sickness has risen from 9.3 in 2017/18 to 10.1 in 2021/22 (Tables 3 and 5).

Figure 4 - Percentage of days lost due to sickness by duration

  • Figure 4 shows the percentage of days lost due to short and long term sickness from 2017/18 to 2021/22. The percentage of days lost due to short term sickness (5 days or less) has decreased from 19.7% in 2017/18 to 16.4% in 2021/22. Compare this with the percentage of days lost due to medium and long term sickness (6 to 20 days and more than 20 days), which both increased from 13.9% and 66.4% in 2017/18 to 14.3% and 69.3% respectively in 2021/22 (table 3).

Section 3. Teacher COVID-19 Absences

  • Teacher absences related to COVID-19 are recorded under new codes created in the Teachers’ Pay and Pensions System to allow schools to record absences due to COVID-19. A full list of the reasons for absence included in the figures is given in note 12 in the notes to readers.

  • Since February 2021 teacher absences due to COVID-19 do not include sickness absence due to COVID-19 taken after the 10 day isolation period.

  • It is only possible to calculate the calendar days lost for COVID-19 absences and it is important to note that this means weekend days and school holidays will both be included in these figures. The number of working days lost due to sickness is not comparable to the calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences.

  • Management information on pupil and workforce attendance is published each week on the Department of Education website. These publications are available at Attendance of pupils and workforce in education settings - 23 May.pdf (education-ni.gov.uk)

Figure 5 - Number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences 2021/22

  • Figure 5 shows the total number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences for teachers. The total number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences was 107,294, up from 90,465 in 2020/21. For school type the largest number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 was in primary schools at 58,721 and the lowest number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 was in peripatetic units at 1,039 days.

Figure 6 - Average number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences per teacher taking a COVID-19 absence 2021/22

  • Figure 6 shows the average number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 absences per teacher taking a COVID-19 absence. For all schools this was 7.2 days. The largest average number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 was in special schools at 9 days. On the other hand the lowest average number of calendar days lost due to COVID-19 was in grammar schools (excluding voluntary grammar) with an average 5.6 days (table 6).

Section 4. Teacher Substitution Costs

Figure 7 - Teacher Subsitution Costs in Northern Ireland 2012/13 - 2021/22

  • Figure 7 shows the teacher substitution costs for each year from 2012/13 to 2021/22. Overall, teacher substitution costs have increased from 2012/13 to 2021/22, from £60.3 million to £100.7 million. This information is given in Tables 7 and 8 and a breakdown by school type is given in Table 9.

  • Table 10 gives a breakdown of the cost of substitution cover by reason. The cost of teacher substitution for sickness has increased this year by 40.2% to £15.1 million. Substitution costs for maternity, paternity and adoption have remained relatively constant at £13.8 million compared with £13.9 million in 2017/18. The cost of substitution for vacant posts has increased from £13.6 million in 2017/18 compared with £17 million in 2021/22, a 25% increase.

Figure 8 - Substitution Days as a Proportion of Total Teaching Days 2012/13 - 2021/22

  • Figure 8 shows the number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days for each year from 2012/13 to 2021/22. During this period the number of substitution days was rising from 433,853 to 526,757 (table 11). As a result the number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days has increased from 13.9% in 2012/13 to 17.5% in 2021/22.

  • Substitute days booked from a COVID-19 budget are not included in the substitute days total (Table 11) as these were booked using dummy schools so a breakdown of them cannot be provided. However, these have been included in the costs under a COVID-19 category so the cost is separately identified (Table 9).

Figure 9 - Proportion of Substitution Cover Provided by Prematurely Retired Teachers 2012/13 - 2021/22

  • Figure 9 shows the proportion of substitution days worked by Prematurely Retired Teachers for each year from 2012/13 to 2021/22. The number of substitution days worked by prematurely retired teachers has fallen from 19,129 in 2012/13 to 3,379 in 2021/22, which represents 0.6% of the total days worked, compared to 4.4% in 2012/13. This information is presented in Table 12 and 13.

  • The reduction in substitute cover provided by prematurely retired teachers may be due to changes in pay for substitute teachers. In 2011, the Department issued guidance to schools on rates of pay for prematurely retired teachers. The link below gives the circular issued to schools detailing the new rate of pay effective from 1 September 2011 for prematurely retired teachers who are re-employed.

    Circular 2011/17 - Rate of pay for prematurely retired teachers from 1 September 2011 | Department of Education (education-ni.gov.uk)

  • Table 14 shows the average daily and hourly substitute cover rates. The daily cost for controlled and maintained schools has increased by £15.80 and £14.29 from £148.49 and £143.22 in 2017/18 to £164.29 and £157.51 in 2021/22. The daily cost for special controlled and maintained schools has also increased, by £14.93 and £3.14 from £161.50 and £166.50 in 2017/18 to £176.43 and £169.64 in 2021/22.

Notes to readers

Official Statistics

  1. This is an Official Statistics publication. Official statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

  2. For general enquiries about the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on 0845 601 3034
    minicom: 01633 812399
    E-mail:
    Fax: 01633 652747
    Letters: Customer Contact Centre, Room 1.015, Office for National Statistics, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP10 8XG

  3. You can also find Official Statistics on the Internet: ONS Website; opens in new window

Teacher Vacancy Survey

  1. The figures for teacher vacancies are derived from the Teacher Vacancies Survey. This data collection covers all grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland, and was carried out by NISRA Central Survey Unit on behalf of DE Statistics and Research Team in the autumn term of 2021/22. All figures refer to the position of schools on 1 November 2021.

Teacher Sickness Absence

  1. The Department committed to publish key figures on the Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers on an annual basis by 30 June each year, beginning in 2012. This commitment was given in DFP’s Memorandum on the 2nd Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2010/11 – The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow up Report 25 Jan 2011. NI Assembly Website - The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers; opens in new window

  2. The teacher sickness absence data is extracted from the computerised teachers’ payroll system.

  3. Teacher sickness absences are given for the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

  4. The number of all permanent teachers used is an average number of teachers who have worked in schools from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

  5. The following types of teacher are included in the teacher sickness absence:

  • full-time permanent teachers;
  • part-time permanent teachers; and
  • peripatetic teachers.
    (all above include teachers paid on 1/365th basis)

  1. Excluded from all figures are teachers at voluntary grammar schools and their preparatory departments as this information is not available from the teachers’ payroll system. Teachers in the preparatory departments of controlled grammar schools are included in the grammar figures.

  2. The numbers are based on a headcount, not full-time equivalent.

Teacher COVID-19 Absence data

  1. The following reasons for absence are included in the data:
  • Confirmed case
  • Showing symptoms of COVID-19
  • Self-isolating as a member of their household is showing symptoms
  • Directed to self-isolate by PHA/NI Executive
  • Dependant self-isolating
  • Vulnerable/shielding category
  • In quarantine

  1. The teacher COVID-19 absence data is extracted from the computerised teachers’ payroll system.

  2. Teacher COVID-19 absences are given for the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

  3. The following types of teacher are included in the teacher COVID-19 absence data:

  • full-time permanent teachers;
  • part-time permanent teachers; and
  • peripatetic teachers.
    (all above include teachers paid on 1/365th basis)

  1. Excluded from all figures are teachers at voluntary grammar schools and their preparatory departments as this information is not available from the teachers’ payroll system. Teachers in the preparatory departments of controlled grammar schools are included in the grammar figures.

  2. The numbers are based on a headcount, not full-time equivalent.

  3. From 11 February 2021 the guidance to schools on recording COVID-19 absences was updated to provide that for a teacher with confirmed COVID-19, absence after the first 10 days should be recorded as a sickness absence rather than COVID-19 absence.

Teacher Substitution Data

  1. Teacher substitution data is extracted from the computerised teachers’ payroll system. Substitution costs are calculated on the teachers’ payroll system from service processed through the Northern Ireland Substitute Teachers’ Register (NISTR).

  2. Figures are based on financial years i.e. 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022.

  3. Figures include peripatetic teachers.

  4. All permanent and temporary payroll (substitution) costs exclude employers’ national insurance and superannuation costs.

  5. All substitution costs relate to temporary payroll only.

  6. Total teaching days are calculated as the average headcount of teachers multiplied by the total number of teaching days in a year, 195.

Revisions Policy

  1. The figures included in this release may be subject to minor revision and these will be notified in accordance with our revisions policy. This can be accessed at DE Website; opens in new window

Definition of management types

  1. Definitions of school management types are as follows:

  • Controlled schools are owned and managed by the Education Authority through boards of governors. Primary and secondary school Boards of Governors consist of representatives of transferors (mainly the Protestant Churches) along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Education Authority. Controlled nursery, grammar and special school boards of governors consist only of representatives of the latter 3 categories. Within the controlled school sector there are a number of integrated schools and a small but growing number of Irish-medium schools.

  • Catholic maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees (appointed by the Roman Catholic Church) and managed by CCMS through boards of governors. Board of governors consist of members nominated by the trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Education Authority. Within the Catholic maintained sector there are a small number of Irish-medium schools.

  • Other maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees and managed by boards of governors which consist of members nominated by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Education Authority. This sector includes a number of Irish Medium schools.

  • Voluntary grammar schools are owned by trustees and managed by boards of governors which consist of members nominated by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, the Department and, in most cases, the Education Authority. (Voluntary grammar schools vary in the rates of capital grant to which they are entitled depending on the management structure they have adopted, with the vast majority entitled to capital grants of 100%)

  • Grant-maintained integrated schools are owned and managed by their boards of governors, which consist of foundation governors along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Department.

  • All of the above are types of grant-aided school. Independent Schools do not receive any funding from the Education Authority or the Department of Education.

General

  1. The following symbols are used in the tables in this Statistical Bulletin:
    * = Relates to fewer than 5 cases
    # = Number (5 or more) suppressed to prevent disclosure of small numbers elsewhere
    - = Indicates no schools in this category

Contact Information

Request for further information should be addressed to:-

Christine Bowden
Paul Rodgers

Statistics and Research Team
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Balloo Road
Rathgill
BANGOR
Co. Down
BT19 7PR

Telephone (028) 9127 9707/ (028) 9127 9992
E-mail:

Special analyses of the workforce statistics can be undertaken on request.

Press enquiries should be made to the Department’s Press Office at the same address, telephone (028) 9127 9772.

Feedback on this publication can be provided directly to Christine Bowden (contact details above) or contact the Statistics and Research Team

List of Tables

The tables for this publication are listed below and can be downloaded in either excel (.xlsx) or comma separated value (.csv) format by clicking on the relevant button.

  • Table 1. Teacher vacancies in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland: 2021
  • Table 2. Teacher vacancies in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland, 2017 – 2021
  • Table 3. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers in Northern Ireland by school type: 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 4. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers by management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 5. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers by school type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 6. COVID-19 absences of all permanent teachers by school type and month of absence in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 7. Teacher substitution costs by management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 8. Teacher substitution costs by school management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 9. Teacher substitution costs by school type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 10. Cost of substitution cover by reason: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 11. Number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 12. Proportion of substitution cover provided by prematurely retired teachers in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 13. Number of days worked by retired teachers providing substitute cover in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 14a. Average daily substitute cover rates by employing authority 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022
  • Table 14b. Average hourly substitute cover rates by employing authority 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022

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