Updates to the Burgundy Book
An updated Burgundy Book was released on 8 June 2023. The Burgundy Book is a national collective agreement between the five main teaching unions and the national employers.
It provides a common framework for a number of key occupational employment benefits and terms of employment specific to teachers, including notice periods, sick leave and pay, and maternity leave and pay.
The Burgundy Book should be read alongside the further conditions of employment specified in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD).
Although academy trusts are not obliged to follow the Burgundy Book (or STPCD), the majority of academy trusts continue to do so, either by expressly incorporating reference to it in their contracts of employment or potentially as an implied term where they follow it in practice.
For teachers who have transferred into an academy trust’s employment under the TUPE regulations, they will continue to be entitled to Burgundy Book terms and conditions where it was incorporated in their previous employment terms and conditions.
This is the first update in 23 years (!), but before we get too excited, national employers have clarified that it is a technical update only.
It updates legislation references and clarifies terminology. It does not intend to alter teachers’ entitlements conferred under the previous version.
If you expressly incorporate the Burgundy Book into your school’s contracts of employment, you may wish to check that your contracts provide for revisions to such collective agreements.
Where you use our precedent contracts, appropriate wording is already included.
Related expertise
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
Gain educational leadership insights from Sir Chris Husbands
On-Demand
Shaping a culture of respect and safety: Preventing sexual harassment in our schools
Legal Update
Top five takeaways for schools on the Employment Rights Bill
Legal Update
New High Court case on exclusion reconsiderations
On-Demand
How schools can grapple with new employment law to thrive in a new era
Guide
New guidance for intervention in schools
Online Event
EdCon 2025
Opinion - Employment Rights Bill
Beyond the Bill: Exploring the horizon of new employment rights and proposed measures
Legal Update - Employment Rights Bill
Labour’s employment law reforms: Employment Rights Bill unveiled
Legal Update
Expanding the role of school attendance mentors
Online Event
Managing safeguarding allegations against staff
Opinion
New anticipatory duty to prevent sexual harassment at work: final EHRC guidance published
Legal Update
Attendance management checklist for schools
Press Release
An interview with HSBC’s ex-commercial manager
Legal Update
Changes to attendance requirements for schools
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s school leaders survey illustrates rising volume of parental complaints and impact on teachers
Opinion
Can teachers personal and political views amount to misconduct?
Legal Update
Government updates guidance on holiday rules: What employers need to know
Legal Update
Holiday pay: Government change clarifies treatment of term time only workers
Legal Update
How do holiday pay reforms affect the education sector?
Legal Update
Revised Acas Code of Practice on requests for flexible working
Opinion
Settlement agreements: Court of Session finds future claims may be settled
Legal Update
Holiday reforms: What employers need to know
Legal Update
Employment law in 2024: How changes impact education
Legal Update
Backpay for leavers: Employers risk unlawful deduction from wages claims
Legal Update
School staff pay – how are academies responding to national recommendations?
Opinion
Autumn statement 2023 – key take outs for employers
Opinion
Agency cover and strike action
Opinion
Overcoming barriers: Building leadership resilience in MATs
Opinion
Updates in equality – An overview of new regulations
Opinion
Minimum Service Levels and reasonable steps – consultation response
Legal Update
Holiday entitlement and pay: Reforms ahead
Legal Update
A positive duty to prevent sexual harassment
Opinion
Minimum service levels and reasonable steps
Opinion
Are teacher strikes coming to an end?
Legal Update
Parental leave and pay - gender equality?
On-Demand
'School staffing restructures: practical guidance for implementing organisational change' webinar
Legal Update
Updates to the Burgundy Book
Published Article
Third Party Harassment – haven’t we been here before?
