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PPA time: rules, eligibility and organisation

Under the STPCD, eligible teachers must have guaranteed planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time. Read the rules on what you must provide, which teachers are eligible and how to manage the planning and delivery of cover lessons.

Last reviewed on 19 January 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 737
Contents
  1. Eligible teachers must have guaranteed PPA time
  2. PPA time must be no less than 10% of a teacher's timetabled teaching time
  3. All teachers with a teaching commitment are entitled to PPA time
  4. Consult teachers on how to organise their PPA time
  5. Teachers don't have to plan the lessons that will cover their PPA time

Eligible teachers must have guaranteed PPA time

Under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), eligible teachers are entitled to no less than 10% of their timetabled teaching time as guaranteed planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time.

PPA time must:

  • Be part of a teacher's directed time
  • Be provided in units of at least 30 minutes during the school's timetabled teaching week
  • Be used to carry out PPA – you can't ask teachers to carry out any other duties during this time

This is explained on pages 52 to 53 (paragraph 52.5) of the STPCD.

You can decide when to schedule PPA time

Other than the rules above, you can decide when PPA time is taken, and it doesn't have to be at the same time each week.

The DfE told us this.

Teachers with leadership or management responsibilities must have a 'reasonable' amount of non-contact time to carry out their duties. This