PPA stands for planning, preparation and assessment. It is protected time within a teacher’s working arrangements to prepare lessons and assess pupils’ learning while someone else takes responsibility for the class.
In maintained schools in England, the national pay and conditions framework provides at least 10% of a teacher’s timetabled teaching time for PPA. It must be timetabled in blocks of at least 30 minutes during the teaching week. The teacher must not be required to undertake other duties during that time.
PPA forms part of directed time, but its minimum allocation is calculated from timetabled teaching time, not total directed hours. The standard annual directed-time limit is 1,265 hours for a full-time classroom teacher under this framework. For 25 hours of timetabled teaching, the minimum PPA allocation is two hours and 30 minutes.
Academies can have different contractual arrangements. Check the teacher’s terms and the framework adopted by the school rather than assuming the same conditions apply everywhere.
PPA cover is the arrangement that allows the class teacher to take this time. Depending on the school and role, it can involve another teacher or appropriately deployed staff. Qualification and supervision requirements still apply. A job title alone does not establish whether the arrangement is suitable.
Music can work well within PPA cover when a suitable teacher follows a planned curriculum. Children receive regular music lessons, and the school can give the subject a dependable place in the week.
Before you start, agree who prepares the lessons and how learning is assessed. The cover arrangement should protect the class teacher’s PPA and give children purposeful teaching. Read about Sing Education Specialist at our Specialist page or discuss your timetable at our contact page.
Related guide: read about music for PPA cover.
PPA stands for planning, preparation and assessment. It gives teachers time within their working arrangements to prepare teaching and consider pupils’ learning. In schools following the national pay and conditions framework, that time is protected. It should not be treated as a general slot for meetings or other assigned duties.
Under the national framework for maintained schools in England, PPA must be at least 10% of timetabled teaching time, in blocks of at least 30 minutes. Calculate it from the teacher’s own timetable. Academy contracts may differ, so check the applicable terms before deciding how much time a particular teacher should receive.
Schools can use another teacher or appropriately deployed staff, subject to the rules applying to the school and the role. In maintained schools, qualification and specified-work requirements need particular attention. Check supervision arrangements where relevant. A headteacher should confirm the proposed arrangement rather than assume a particular job title is enough.
PPA cover is the staffing arrangement that releases a teacher for planning, preparation and assessment. It can be delivered through an agreed subject lesson, such as music. The school needs to decide who takes responsibility for the class and how the learning fits its curriculum, alongside checking the teacher’s full PPA allocation.
Yes. A suitable specialist can teach music while the class teacher takes PPA. The arrangement needs an agreed curriculum and appropriate staffing. Check who prepares the lessons and reports on learning. Sing Education Specialist provides in-school music teaching; speak to us about whether the service would fit your school’s timetable.
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