Legislation – The Teachers’ Pensions Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Regulation 2 replaces the reference to the “Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991” in paragraph 17(a) of Schedule 2 to the 2010 Regulations with a reference to the “Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021”.

Regulation 4 makes changes to members’ contribution rates in the table in regulation 185 of the 2014 Regulations. As members’ contribution rates are “protected elements” of the scheme under section 22 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), the Secretary of State has laid a report in Parliament explaining why changes have been made in the protected period (28th February 2014 to 31st March 2040).

Regulation 5 amends regulation 196 of the 2014 Regulations to change the day on which employers must pay the scheme manager contributions and interest relating to a person’s pensionable earnings.

Regulation 6 amends paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 (relating to Fair Deal transfers) to expand the definition of “contracting scheme employer” to include certain further education establishments. Regulation 6 also amends the definition of “accepted employer” in paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to remove the requirement that an employer to whom an accepted member is transferring must be in a contract for services with an employer from whom that accepted member is transferring. These amendments have effect on and after 14 November 2024 notwithstanding that the Regulations come into force after that date. The power to make retrospective provision is set out in section 3(3)(b) of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.

Regulations 7 and 8 add the National Institute of Teaching to the list of eligible employment in Schedule 1 and replace the reference to the “Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991” in paragraph 26(a) of Schedule 1 with the “Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021”.

Regulation 10 corrects a cross-reference in regulation 13 of the 2023 Regulations. Regulation 11 removes the definition of “relevant percentage value” and amends the definition of “alternative amount” in regulation 19 of the 2023 Regulations. This is to clarify that where a relevant pension sharing order that does not relate to mixed service (as described in regulation 18(3)) specifies a percentage value in relation to the initial scheme, the alternative amount calculated under regulation 19(1)(a)(i) can only ever be the amount that would have been determined had the remediable relevant benefits been secured in the alternative scheme and the same percentage value been applied under section 29(2) of the Welfare and Reform Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30) on the valuation day.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.