Headteacher Annual Leave Calculator
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How much annual leave do you get? This calculator shows leave entitlement for a Headteacher based on your sector's terms: days and hours, pro-rata for part-time, plus bank holidays. Use it to check your entitlement or plan time off.
Assumptions and pay data
Pay data: School Teachers' Pay (England). Main (M1–M6) and Upper (U1–U3) rest-of-England points uplifted 3.5% for September 2026 (STRB accepted). Leading Practitioner and Leadership interpolated as before. Support: NJC SCP 5–12 uplifted 3.3%. Formal STPCD circular expected October 2026.
- Leave entitlement is based on your sector's terms (e.g. NHS AfC, NJC, Civil Service). Figures are illustrative; check your contract and employer for exact entitlement.
- Part-time: we pro-rate by your contracted hours vs full-time hours for your sector.
- Bank holidays: as per your sector (England & Wales typically 8). Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ.
Guide for Headteacher
This guide summarises contractual annual leave for Headteacher under School Teachers' Pay (England) at Schools. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted hours.
Annual leave for Headteacher
As Headteacher at Schools, annual leave usually follows School Teachers (STPCD). Bank holiday treatment varies; check whether they are included in the stated total. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted weekly hours.
Teachers
Teachers have directed time and take leave mainly in school holidays rather than a pot of annual leave days. Support staff in schools typically follow NJC leave terms.
Example scenario
Illustrative example at bottom of band (matches calculator defaults)
| Sector terms (example) | School Teachers (STPCD) |
|---|---|
| Years of service (example) | 3 |
| Annual leave days (example) | — |
| Hours (full-time example) | — |
Annual Leave Calculator
You'll see:
- Your annual leave entitlement in days and hours
- Pro-rata for part-time and for partial years
- Bank holidays and total time off
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Frequently asked questions
What does this annual leave calculator do?
It shows your annual leave entitlement in days and hours based on your sector's terms (e.g. NHS AfC, Civil Service, NJC). You enter your contracted hours and years of service; we apply the sector rules and pro-rate for part-time. Bank holidays are included where applicable.
Is my entitlement exactly as shown?
Figures are based on national or sector terms. Your employer may have local variations or different qualifying dates. Always check your contract and HR for exact entitlement.
How is part-time leave calculated?
We pro-rate by your contracted weekly hours vs the full-time hours for your sector (e.g. 37.5 for NHS AfC). So if you work 50% of full-time hours, you get 50% of the full-time leave days and hours.
What about teachers?
Teachers have directed time and take leave in school holidays rather than a set number of "annual leave" days. The calculator may show a message for teachers or support staff (who often follow NJC).
Do bank holidays count as leave?
It depends on your sector. Many public sector terms include bank holidays within the leave entitlement (e.g. England & Wales often 8); others add them on top. We show total time off where the dataset specifies it.
What if I've worked less than a full year?
We pro-rate by months of service where your sector rules allow. New starters may get a proportion of the annual entitlement; check your employer's qualifying period and how they calculate part-year leave.
As a Headteacher, where do the figures come from?
We use the leave rules for your sector (e.g. AfC, NJC, Civil Service). Your employer may have local agreements that improve on the minimum. Use this as a guide and confirm with your contract or HR.
Are the figures official?
No. They are based on published sector terms. Local agreements and qualifying dates vary. Always check your employer for definitive entitlement.
Do you store my information?
No. All inputs and results stay in your browser. We do not collect personal data.
Can I use this for term-time or part-year contracts?
The calculator uses full-time equivalent hours and sector leave days. Term-time or part-year staff may have different rules; your employer will confirm how leave is calculated for your contract.
About this role
What is a Headteacher?
A Headteacher leads a school, with responsibility for standards, staff and pupils. Pay is on the leadership spine and varies by school size and phase.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Headteachers carry statutory and employer accountability for standards, safeguarding and budgets; intensity, hours and term-time rhythm vary widely by school size, phase and governance (maintained school, academy or trust). Pay in England is usually set under STPCD leadership ranges but your governing body or trust determines specifics. Some people progress to executive headship or trust roles; others move into consultancy, inspection-related work or different sectors. There is no single "right" path.
What is my annual leave entitlement?
Use the calculator above to see your leave in days and hours, including pro-rata for part-time and bank holidays. Entitlements are based on your sector's terms; check your contract for exact figures.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides illustrative estimates only and is not financial or career advice. Pay rules and allowances can change. Always check your employer or official sources for definitive figures.