How to Work Out Term Time Pay
Clear explanation with practical examples for UK workers
Working Out Term-Time Pay: A Practical Guide
Term-time pay calculations are often misunderstood because they involve two proportional adjustments rather than one. This guide explains the method step by step, using real figures from UK school pay scales, so you can verify your own salary or estimate earnings for a term-time role you are considering.
The fundamental question is: what fraction of a full-time, year-round salary should a term-time worker receive? The answer depends on both weekly hours and the number of working weeks.
The Term-Time Pay Calculation
Follow these steps to work out your term-time pay:
Start with the FTE salary
For NJC support staff, find your grade and spinal column point on the current pay scale. For 2025/26, common starting points range from £22,366 (SCP 3) to £27,334 (SCP 12).
Count your total paid weeks
Add your term weeks (check your contract — usually 38 or 39) to your holiday entitlement. Pro rata holiday is 5.6 × (your days ÷ 5). Working 5 days per week = 28 days (5.6 weeks). Working 3 days = 16.8 days (3.36 weeks).
Calculate both fractions
Hours fraction: Your Hours ÷ Full-Time Hours. Weeks fraction: Total Paid Weeks ÷ 52. Multiply both fractions together, then multiply by the FTE salary.
Why Your Payslip May Look Different
Schools typically spread term-time pay across 12 equal monthly payments. This means you receive the same pay in August (holiday) as in September (working). Do not confuse the monthly figure with a different annual salary — multiply your monthly gross by 12 to verify the annual total matches the term-time calculation.
Some academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs) use slightly different formulas. If your payslip does not match this calculation, ask payroll to share their specific formula. Use our term-time salary calculator to quickly check figures, or the salary checker for standard pro rata verification.
Quick Summary: How to Work Out Term Time Pay
If you're short on time, here's what you need to know about how to work out term time pay:
- What it means: How to Work Out Term Time Pay involves calculating pay or entitlement proportionally based on the ratio of hours or time worked versus the full-time equivalent.
- The formula: Full-Time Amount × (Your Hours ÷ Full-Time Hours) = Your Pro Rata Amount
- Who needs it: Part-time workers, term-time staff, teachers, job-sharers, and anyone on reduced hours.
- UK law: Under the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000, part-time employees have the right to be treated no less favourably than comparable full-time workers.
Worked Example: How to Work Out Term Time Pay
Let's work through a real example of using a how to work out term time pay. Sarah is a school teaching assistant on a full-time equivalent salary of £23,500. She works term-time only (38 weeks) at 30 hours per week, while the full-time role is 37.5 hours per week for 52 weeks.
Step 1 — Calculate the hours pro rata: 30 ÷ 37.5 = 0.8 FTE
Step 2 — Calculate the weeks pro rata: (38 + 5.6 holiday weeks) ÷ 52.143 = 0.8356
Step 3 — Apply both adjustments: £23,500 × 0.8 × 0.8356 = £15,710 per year
This gives Sarah a monthly gross pay of approximately £1,309. However, because her pay is spread across 12 months, she receives the same amount each month even during school holidays.
Want to check a different scenario? Use our how to work out term time pay above — enter your own figures to see your exact term-time salary.
Common Mistakes With How to Work Out Term Time Pay
- Forgetting holiday weeks: Term-time pay isn't just term weeks × weekly rate. You must add 5.6 weeks of statutory holiday to your term weeks before dividing by 52.143. Many employers include this in your annual hours calculation.
- Using 52 instead of 52.143: There are 365.25 days in a year (accounting for leap years), which gives 52.143 weeks — not exactly 52. This small difference affects your annual salary by up to £100.
- Confusing teaching and support staff scales: Teachers and support staff use completely different pay scales. Teaching assistants should use their local authority pay grade, not the Teachers' Pay Scale.
- Not including INSET days: Most contracts include 5 teacher training (INSET) days in addition to term weeks. Check whether your 38 or 39 weeks includes or excludes INSET days.
According to ACAS guidance, your employer should provide a clear breakdown of how your term-time salary is calculated. If the figures don't match, raise it with HR or contact ACAS for free advice.
Pro Rata Holiday Entitlement
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, all UK workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year (28 days for full-time). If you work part-time, your entitlement is calculated pro rata based on your actual hours or days worked.
| Days Worked/Week | FTE Ratio | Statutory Days/Year | Bank Holidays (pro rata) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days (full-time) | 1.0 | 28 days | 8 days |
| 4 days/week | 0.8 | 22.4 days | 6.4 days |
| 3 days/week | 0.6 | 16.8 days | 4.8 days |
| 2.5 days/week | 0.5 | 14 days | 4 days |
| 2 days/week | 0.4 | 11.2 days | 3.2 days |
Holiday entitlement is always rounded up — never down — when the result is not a whole number, per ACAS guidance on holiday entitlement. Bank holidays may be included in or added on top of your statutory 28 days, depending on your contract.
All calculations on this page follow ACAS pro rata pay guidelines and are consistent with the UK Employment Rights Act 1996. Tax figures use HMRC 2025/26 rates. The April 2025 National Living Wage of £12.21/hour is applied where relevant.
Further Reading
For more help with how to work out term time pay, explore our free UK tools. You may also find these useful: pro rata calculator, overtime calculator, holiday pay guide.
Last updated: February 2026. Verified against HMRC 2025/26 tax rates and April 2025 National Living Wage (£12.21/hour).
Frequently Asked Questions
Term-time salary = Full-time salary × (term weeks + holiday weeks) ÷ 52. For example, with 39 term weeks plus 5.6 holiday weeks: £30,000 × 44.6 ÷ 52 = £25,730.77.
Yes. Term-time workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks statutory holiday pro rata. This is usually built into the annual salary and spread across 12 equal monthly payments.
Most UK schools have 39 weeks of term time per year, split across three terms. Some academies may vary slightly. The remaining 13 weeks are school holidays.
Most employers pay term-time staff in 12 equal monthly instalments throughout the year, even during school holidays. This provides a consistent monthly income.