Human Resources

Transfer and Promotion

Teaching Service

Ongoing employees have the opportunity to transfer or promote within the Teaching Service.  This includes movement within and across the different classes (principal class, teacher class and education support class).  To view transfer or promotion opportunities online go to Recruitment Online.

Promotion is defined as the permanent movement of an ongoing employee from one position to another position in the Teaching Service with a higher attainable maximum salary than the employee’s substantive position.

Transfer is defined as the permanent movement of an ongoing employee from one position to another position in the Teaching Service with the same or lower attainable maximum salary than the employee’s substantive position.

An ongoing employee who is the successful applicant for an ongoing or tenured position (e.g leading teacher or principal class) will be permanently transferred or promoted to that position.  An employee who is transferred or promoted to a tenured position will be subject to the applicable tenure renewal policy.  Transfer to a position at a lower level or salary range can only occur with the employee’s consent.  Where consent is given the employee will be permanently transferred and paid at the lower level.

An ongoing employee who is the successful applicant for a fixed term position of more than twelve months (or in the case of a family leave replacement where the replacement continues beyond twelve months) will be permanently transferred to that school.  If the position is at the same level the employee will be paid his or her substantive salary.  If the position is at a higher level the employee will be paid a higher duties allowance.  If the position is at a lower level the transfer can only occur where the employee consents to reduce his or her substantive level to the level of the fixed term position.  Where consent is given the employee will be permanently transferred and paid at the lower level.

Further information regarding transfer and promotion, including eligibility and qualification requirements, is set out in the Recruitment in Schools Guide (PDF - 975Kb).

Temporary transfer

An ongoing employee who is the successful applicant for a fixed term position of 12 months or less will be temporarily transferred to that position subject to the base school principal’s agreement to the temporary transfer. 

If the fixed term position is at a higher level the employee will be paid a higher duties allowance for the fixed term period.  If the fixed term position is at the same level the employee will be paid their substantive salary.  If the fixed term position is at a lower level there is no capacity to temporarily reduce an employee’s substantive level.  Temporary transfer to a lower level position can only occur where the employee consents to reduce his or her substantive level to the level of the fixed term position.  In this case the employee will resume at the base school at the lower substantive level.

An ongoing employee currently on leave without pay (other than a teacher on unpaid parental absence) who is selected for a fixed term position can only take up that position at the expiration of the period of leave or earlier with the approval of the base school principal.  In this case consultation between the two principals and the teacher involved should occur to ensure that the implications of the temporary transfer are clear.  Where approval for an early resumption is given the leave without pay will cease and the employee will be temporarily transferred to the position.  At the conclusion of the temporary transfer the employee will resume at his or her base school.  Where the employee is a teacher on unpaid parental absence the policy on temporary resumption from family leave applies.

Administrative transfer

Section 2.4.3(3)(h) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 enables the administrative transfer of a member of the Teaching Service to another position without the position being advertised where the Secretary considers this to be in the interests of the Teaching Service.  Where it is considered to be in the interests of the Teaching Service to administratively transfer an employee between schools the principals of both schools may make joint application to the Secretary.  The application should set out the grounds on which the administrative transfer is sought and the reasons why such a transfer cannot be effected through normal staffing processes.

Transfer or promotion to the Public Service

Section 2.4.37 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 provides for the transfer or promotion of an ongoing employee from the Teaching Service to the Public Service.  Where this occurs the employee retains his or her long service leave and personal leave entitlements.

Teaching Service | Public Service Staff

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