Staff contracts for schools and academies
About
The NSE have worked with Winkworth Sherwood LLP to provide updated template employment contracts and offer letters for various roles in both academies and VA Church of England maintained schools, available to download below. The template model employment contracts are provided in the form of a template central master terms and conditions document with an accompanying offer letter that is intended to fit the individual role/circumstances. The offer letter and terms and conditions together constitute the written statement of particulars of employment. Note that this suite of model documents is intended to be adapted to reflect the context of the particular educational establishment and its local circumstances ensuring proper consultation with trade unions and staff, as appropriate.
These templates were updated in light of the Employment Rights Act 2025 and are current as of 1 June 2026. Please note that it is important that before these documents are used and issued you:
Read the detailed guidance note and identify the appropriate template contract AND accompanying offer letter.
Seek legal/HR advice as appropriate. Specific advice should always be sought if using these templates for the first time or seeking to introduce for existing staff in order to ensure appropriate consultation with unions and staff has taken place as necessary.
Adapt the correct template contract and offer letter with HR support as needed. The contracts contain specific drafting guidance notes within the margin to support with this.
Please note that for Head Teacher or CEO appointments your Diocese must be involved in the process.
These templates have been provided in order to support schools and as stated above are based on the law as of 1 June 2026. The NSE and their advisers accept no liability in respect of the template documents or for any loss or damage (howsoever caused) which any end user or other third party may suffer as a result of using and/or relying on them and/or any of their provisions.