24 February 2020

Timetabling

When assembling their timetables, schools must be careful to respect the working conditions of their teachers, as laid out in the award and agreement.

A full-time teacher can only be expected to be on duty for a maximum of 25 hours a week (30 hours a week for a full-time instrumental music teacher/instructor). The standard hours of instruction are between 8.30am and 3.30pm - any changes must occur in accordance with the provisions of clause 15.8 of the Teaching in State Education Award – State 2016.

In primary and special schools, a full-time teacher should be in front of a class for no more than 22 hours and 10 minutes, while secondary teachers should perform a maximum of 20 hours and 40 minutes of face-to-face teaching and associated professional duties (i.e. assembly, form class, pastoral care, sport).

Primary and special school teachers are entitled to a minimum of two hours of non-contact time per week for planning, preparation and correction, provided in usable blocks of time of no less than 30 minutes. Secondary teachers are entitled to three and a half hours, which must be in units no less than the length of a regular school lesson.

Teachers’ break entitlements must also be respected. They are entitled to a 45-minute uninterrupted meal break each day (although the duration of this can be modified through the LCC), which should fall between 11am and 2pm. Teachers should also receive a 10-minute rest pause at a separate time to the meal break.

For more detail, check out the QTU Timetabling Guide at https://www.qtu.asn.au/qtuguide-timetabling

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064