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Key Points

  • There were fewer vacancies in November 2022 than in the previous year, with 1,415 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2021/22, 1,136 (80.3%) of which had been filled by November 2022 (when the survey was carried out). These figures may have been affected by Action Short of Strike (ASOS), see notes to readers paragraph 5.

  • The average number of days lost per teacher due to sickness, in all schools in 2022/23 was 9.8. This represents an increase of 0.3 days from 2018/19.

  • Teacher substitution costs have increased from £100.7 million in 2021/22 to £103.7 million in 2022/23.

  • The number of substitution days worked by Prematurely Retired Teachers has fallen from 3,379 days in 2021/22 to 3,120 days in 2022/23. This represents 0.5% of the total days worked, compared to 3.8% in 2013/14.


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 2022/23.

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.

Some schools did not make a return for the Teacher Vacancy Return, most citing that they were participating in Action Short of Strike. It was not possible to include an estimated return for these schools as the number of vacancies in each individual school can vary substantially from year to year, these schools have therefore been omitted from the analysis. (See paragraph 5 of Notes to readers).

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 2022

  • Figure 1 shows the total number of teacher vacancies at the end of 2021/22 and the proportions which were filled or unfilled by November 2022. There were 1,415 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2021/22, 1,136 (80.3%) of which had been filled by November 2022. This compares with 1,336 of 1,711 (78.1%) 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 34.6% of vacancies unfilled by November 2022. Tables 1 and 2 outline the teacher vacancy data in more detail. These can be found in the final section of the publication.

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 13 in notes to readers.

Figure 2 - Average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher 2022/23

  • Figure 2 shows the average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher, in all schools was 9.8. The largest average number of days lost due to sickness was in peripatetic units at 15.7 and the lowest average number of days lost due to sickness was in grammar schools (excluding voluntary grammar) with an average 6 days (Tables 3 and 5). These tables can be found in the final section of the publication.

Figure 3 - Average number of days lost due to sickness per teacher 2018/19 - 2022/23

  • Figure 3 shows the trend in sickness absence since 2018/19. The number of working days lost per teacher from 2018/19 to 2019/20 remained almost constant, going from 9.5 days to 9.3 days. 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 saw a rise in absence to 10.1 days. The current year has seen a drop in absence to 9.8 days. Overall average number of working days lost per teacher due to sickness has risen slightly from 9.5 in 2018/19 to 9.8 in 2022/23 (Tables 3 and 5). These tables can be found in the final section of the publication.

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 2018/19 to 2022/23. The percentage of days lost due to short term sickness (5 days or less) has increased from 18.8% in 2018/19 to 20.9% in 2022/23. The percentage of days lost due to medium term sickness (6 to 20 days) increased from 12.9% in 2018/19 to 13.1%, whereas the percentage decreased for long term sickness (more than 20 days) from 68.4% in 2018/19 to 66% in 2022/23. This information can be found in Table 3 which can be found in the final section.

Section 3. Teacher Substitution Costs

Figure 5 - Teacher Subsitution Costs in Northern Ireland 2013/14 - 2022/23

  • Figure 5 shows the teacher substitution costs for each year from 2013/14 to 2022/23. Overall, teacher substitution costs have increased from 2013/14 to 2022/23, from £65.3 million to £103.7 million. This information is given in Tables 6 and 7 and a breakdown by school type is given in Table 8. This table can be found in the final section of the publication.

  • Table 9 gives a breakdown of the cost of substitution cover by reason. The cost of teacher substitution for sickness has increased this year by 10.1% to £16.6 million. Substitution costs for maternity, paternity and adoption have decreased from £13.7 million in 2018/19 compared with £11.8 million in 2022/23. The cost of substitution for vacant posts has increased from £13.5 million in 2018/19 compared with £19.6 million in 2022/23, a 44.6% increase. This can be found in the final section of the publication.

Figure 6 - Substitution Days as a Proportion of Total Teaching Days 2013/14 - 2022/23

  • Figure 6 shows the number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days for each year from 2013/14 to 2022/23. During this period the number of substitution days was rising from 447,687 to 635,303 (table 10). As a result the number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days has increased from 14.4% in 2013/14 to 20.7% in 2022/23.

Figure 7 - Proportion of Substitution Cover Provided by Prematurely Retired Teachers 2013/14 - 2022/23

  • Figure 7 shows the proportion of substitution days worked by Prematurely Retired Teachers for each year from 2013/14 to 2022/23. The number of substitution days worked by prematurely retired teachers has fallen from 17,121 in 2013/14 to 3,120 in 2022/23, which represents 0.5% of the total days worked, compared to 3.8% in 2013/14. This information is presented in Table 11 and 12. These can be found in the final section of the publication.

  • 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 13 shows the average daily and hourly substitute cover rates. The daily cost for controlled and maintained schools has increased by £18.40 and £15.19 from £148.10 and £144.25 in 2018/19 to £166.50 and £159.44 in 2022/23. The daily cost for special controlled and maintained schools has decreased, by £2 and £2.57 from £180.29 and £171.21 in 2018/19 to £178.29 and £168.64 in 2022/23. This table can be found in the final section of the publication.

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 2022/23. All figures refer to the position of schools on 1 November 2022.

  2. Action short of strike was reported by 148 schools as the reason for not completing the Teacher Vacancy Return. It was not possible to include an estimated return for these schools as the number of vacancies in each individual school can vary substantially from year to year, these schools have therefore been omitted from the analysis. The response rate broken down by school type is given below:

No of schools Valid returns Response rate %
Nursery 93 84 90.3
Primary 782 682 87.2
Secondary 126 103 81.7
Preparatory 12 12 100.0
Grammar 66 64 97.0
Special 40 28 70.0
Irish Medium Units 10 8 80.0
All schools 1,129 981 86.9

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 2022 to 31 March 2023.

  4. The number of all permanent teachers used is an average number of teachers who have worked in schools from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

  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.

  3. For 2020/21 figures exclude any sickness due to COVID-19. 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 and for 2022/23 figures include all sickness absences due to COVID-19.

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 2022 – 31 March 2023.

  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.

  7. Substitute days booked from a COVID-19 budget from 2020/21 onwards are not included in the substitute days total as these were booked using dummy schools so a breakdown of them could not be provided for those years. However, these have been included in the substitution costs under a COVID-19 category so the cost is separately identified.

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 managed and funded by the Education Authority (EA) through Boards of Governors (BoG). Primary and secondary school BoGs consist of representatives of transferors (mainly the Protestant Churches) along with representatives of parents, teachers and EA. Controlled nursery, grammar and special school BoGs consist only of representatives of the latter three categories and the Department (DE).
  • Controlled Integrated schools are managed and funded by the Education Authority (EA) through Boards of Governors (BoG). The majority of BoGs consist of representatives of transferors, catholic maintained trustees, parents, teachers and EA.
  • Grant-Maintained Integrated schools are owned and managed by their BoG which consist of foundation governors along with representatives of parents, teachers and DE. They are funded by EA.

A Voluntary school means a grant-aided school other than a controlled school or a grant‐maintained integrated school:

  • Catholic maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees and managed by BoGs which consist of members appointed by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, EA and DE. Catholic Maintained schools are funded by EA.
  • Other maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees and managed by BoGs which consist of members appointed by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, EA and in some cases, DE. Other Maintained schools are funded by EA.
  • Voluntary grammar schools are owned by trustees and managed by BoGs. The majority of BoGs consist of members appointed by the trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, DE and in some cases, EA. Voluntary Grammar schools are funded by EA.

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: 2022
  • Table 2. Teacher vacancies in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland, 2018 – 2022
  • Table 3. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers in Northern Ireland by school type: 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 4. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers by management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 5. Sickness absence of all permanent teachers by school type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 6. Teacher substitution costs by management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 7. Teacher substitution costs by school management type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 8. Teacher substitution costs by school type in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 9. Cost of substitution cover by reason: 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 10. Number of substitution days as a proportion of total teaching days in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 11. Proportion of substitution cover provided by prematurely retired teachers in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 12. Number of days worked by retired teachers providing substitute cover in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 13a. Average daily substitute cover rates by employing authority 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2023
  • Table 13b. Average hourly substitute cover rates by employing authority 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2023

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