Staff meetings: guidance

Make the most of your staff meetings by carefully considering their purpose. Find out how you can reduce the impact on staff workload and understand the rules on the frequency of meetings.

Last reviewed on 18 March 2026
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 12432
Contents
  1. Consider the frequency of meetings
  2. Review and streamline your meetings
  3. Be clear on scheduling 

Consider the frequency of meetings

Remember the directed time requirements

You can't ask teachers to attend meetings in excess of their annual directed time if:

  • They're employed under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), and;
  • They're not paid on the leadership pay range

Only meetings that are mandatory count towards directed time, so remember to clarify to staff when a meeting isn't mandatory.

There are no rules like this for any other members of staff.

Refer to union guidance

When planning meetings for any staff, refer to union advice on holding meetings to avoid complaints.

For example, the union NASUWT suggests that teachers who aren't on the leadership pay range should attend only 1 meeting per week outside of pupil session times.

Review and streamline your meetings

For example, Hill Top Infant