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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Management Staff Working in Adult Education and Training

United Kingdom - Northern Ireland

Last update: 16 December 2020
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This article deals with staff, other than teaching staff, working in further education (FE) colleges. FE colleges are at the centre of adult education and training provision in Northern Ireland, although there are also private and voluntary sector providers who may, for example, be contracted by the Department for the Economy (DfE) to provide the off-the-job training which forms part of an apprenticeship.

The focus of this article is on principals, vice principals, Heads of Department and principal lecturers in FE colleges. Like others working in FE, they are not civil servants and do not have guaranteed employment at any stage of their professional life, but instead must apply for specific posts.

Management and staffing structures in individual FE colleges vary, as do job categories and titles.

Managers in FE colleges 

The University and College Union (UCU) negotiates with the six further education (FE) colleges in Northern Ireland on pay and conditions of service for FE lecturers through the Lecturers’ Negotiating Committee (LNC).

The term ‘FE lecturer’ includes staff with management responsibilities below the level of vice principals. For example, heads of department and principal lecturers may have a range of management duties in relation to their areas of responsibility; the latter may also include some student contact.

As set out in the NI FE Lecturers’ Contract, May’11, the full-time working year for heads of department and principal lecturers is 1541 hours, with 35 days’ annual leave. All FE lecturers are required to participate in an annual appraisal scheme and automatically become members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme unless they choose to opt out.

Salary scales for principal lecturers and heads of department are provided on pages 2 and 3 respectively of the Lecturers’ Award Circular. These salary scales are part of a larger pay spine for management staff in FE on page 4 of the same circular. On recruitment, successful candidates are placed on a point on the salary scale commensurate with their qualifications and experience. 

Heads of department and principal lecturers are not required to hold specific management-related qualifications in order to be appointed but must hold a recognised teaching qualification.

College principals and vice-principles  

All further education (FE) colleges have an Instrument and Articles of Government setting out how the college is governed, as set out in article 11 of The Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. They are led by a governing body, which is the employer of the college’s staff. Although the Instrument and Articles of Government of individual FE colleges may vary, the governing body is responsible for appointing senior staff, including the principal.

The principal/director of the college is also its accounting officer, accountable to the Department for the Economy (DfE) for all aspects of the college’s expenditure of public funds. More detailed information on the role of the principal as the accounting officer is provided on pages 15-17 of the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum between the DfE and the FE Colleges.

The principal’s other responsibilities are set out on pages 4-5 of the Model Articles of Government for Colleges of Further Education and include:

  • making proposals to the governing body on the educational mission and character of the college, and ensuring that their decisions in relation to these are implemented
  • advising and keeping the governing body informed on all aspects of college affairs 
  • organising, directing and managing the college on a day-to-day basis
  • quality and performance matters, especially with regard to academic provision
  • curriculum development and programmes of staff development
  • arrangements for the admission, assessment and examination of students and for maintaining student discipline
  • the appointment, appraisal, suspension and dismissal of staff, other than senior staff, within the framework set by the governing body.

The University and College Union (UCU) negotiates with the six FE colleges on pay and conditions of service for principals/directors, and also for vice principals, through the Directors’ Negotiating Committee (DNC).

The pay spine for principals/directors and vice principals is structured according to college groups. The group reflects the size of the college and the number of students enrolled. For the current pay spine, see the Principals’ and Deputy Directors’ Award Circular.

The NI FE Vice Principals/Deputy Directors Contract of Employment, Feb 03, sets out the terms of employment for vice principals. There is no set number of weekly working hours; vice principals are expected to work the hours necessary to perform their duties and responsibilities efficiently. The annual leave allowance is 35 days per year, and vice principals must participate in an annual performance appraisal. They are also entitled to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme if they wish.

There are no specific qualification requirements for college principals or vice principals. When appointing a principal or vice principal, the governing bodies of FE colleges are free to accept the applicant they believe is best qualified for the role.

 

Article last reviewed December 2020.