Permanent variable hours and zero hours contract - same thing?

[Bitlady]

Hello.

This is my first post here, just hoping someone can help clarify this as I've been reading conflicting things!

I have been offered a job in a school with a permanent variable hours contract, term time only. I assumed this was slightly different to zero hours as I will be working the same shifts every week but may occasionally be asked to do more if there is an event/trip going on.

My understanding is that I only get paid for the hours I work (which I am used to as I currently do agency work) but as it's permanent will I still be eligible for a pension scheme etc?

Any advice on permanent variable hours in general would be much appreciated!

Provided you earn at least £10,000 per year your employer must provide a pension. Even if you don't earn that much you can still join their pension scheme if you want to but they don't have to contribute if your earnings fall below £113 per week. This would be true even if you were on a zero hours contract.

What you are describing is definitely not a zero hours contract. That is a contract where there is no commitment by the employer to provide you with work at all. You would only work when they contacted you and told you there was some work available.