2nd July 2025
Threshold Assessment Arrangements for 2025/2026:
The Employing Authorities have issued a covering letter to all Principals of grant-aided schools regarding the Threshold Assessment process effective from 1 September 2025.
Key Points:
- Eligible teachers must have completed periods of employment amounting to at least 26 weeks of satisfactory service and be on point 6 of the Main Pay Scale.
- Teachers who wish to seek progression to the Upper Pay Scale must apply for assessment against the Northern Ireland Threshold Standards, which remain unchanged.
- Principals are responsible for assessing applications based on the four threshold standards, using the 2023/24 and 2024/25 PRSD review statements.
- There will be no external assessment; decisions rest on the professional judgement of the principal.
- Verification of evidence is required for all applicants.
- Applications from eligible teachers for threshold assessment must be made to the principal, no later than Friday 3 October 2025
- Successful applicants will move to Point 1 of the Upper Pay Scale from 1 September 2025.
Principals are advised to:
- Hold an induction meeting with eligible staff as soon as possible.
- Distribute the application form and supporting documents.
- Explain the assessment process (e.g. discussions with Heads of Department, lesson observations).
- Submit completed TR268 (UPS1) forms to the Teachers’ Pay and Pensions Team (TPPT) by Friday 24 October 2025. Late submissions will not be processed.
Upper Pay Scale Progression for 2025/2026:
They also issued a letter to schools outlining the Upper Pay Scale progression arrangements from September 2025 – Letter from Employing Authorities Funding Authorities to Principal / Chair of Governors (PDF)
Eligibility:
- Teachers on UPS1 as of 1 September 2023 may be considered for UPS2.
- Teachers on UPS2 as of 1 September 2023 may be considered for UPS3.
- Must have completed at least 26 weeks of satisfactory service in the past 12 months.
- Must have two consecutive successful PRSD review statements for 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Assessment & Submission:
- Decisions are made by the Principal.
- UPS2 and UPS3 forms must be completed and retained by the school.
- The TR268 form must be submitted to the Teachers’ Pay and Pensions Team (TPPT) by Friday 24 October 2025.
- Late submissions will not be processed.
- Only teachers recorded on the appropriate forms will receive payment from 1 September 2025.
Further information and useful documentation can be accessed below:
(Member login required – please contact infoni@into.ie with your name and Teacher Reference Number if you experience problems with your login)
Threshold Arrangements 2025/2026
Upper Pay Scale Progression 2025/2026
This information is also available directly from the DE website HERE