Administration of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is finally expected to be transferred to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in November, following a 12-month delay. The Indian IT firm was due to take over from outsourcing giant Capita last October. Capita has run the scheme since 1996, but missed out on the new 10-year contract when the government re-tendered in 2023. The tender was awarded to TCS for £233 million. The DfE had said it would “transition” the pension scheme (TPS) to Tata over two years beginning in October 2023, before the new contract began last October. But the final handover was pushed back in August last year to summer this year. It was further stalled in March, with the handover delayed to this October. The DfE said extra time was needed to complete the transition “effectively” and “maintain service continuity for members and employers”. It said its “priority” was “to ensure a smooth and secure handover of the TPS after almost 30 years of administration by Capita”. In an email to schools at the start of this academic year, the DfE said that “from 1 November” administration of the TPS “will transfer from Capita to Tata Consultancy Services”. The department told Schools Week it is “working closely with” TCS and Capita to deliver the transition on 1 November. The transition “is being managed carefully to minimise disruption to employers and members”, it said. 2.2 million TPS members A Capita spokesperson said it “is working closely with the Department and TCS to support the planned transition…on 1 November”. “Our focus remains on continuing to deliver the scheme and supporting the handover.” TPS includes more than 2.2 million current teachers, those receiving payments and those deferred and yet to claim benefits, according to most recent figures. The DfE previously said the new contract would “provide a more automated, digitalised and personalised service to our members and employers”. This included providing “enhanced” access to data and an “improved ability” to self-service pension processes. TCS did not respond to Schools Week’s request for comment. Tata will take over responsibility for McCloud remedy payments, which were designed to correct age discrimination following public sector pension reforms in 2015. A 2018 court judgment ruled that previous changes to public sector pensions treated younger workers unfairly. To fix this, the government is issuing “remediable service statements” (RSS) to those affected, asking whether they would like their pension entitlement to be calculated based on their current scheme, known as the “legacy” option, or the new “reformed” scheme. Delays mean almost half a million teachers are yet to receive their RSS. Outstanding RSSs Answering written questions on 8 September, schools minister Georgia Gould revealed that 466,909 RSSs remained outstanding – 64,484 of them related to retired members. That means outstanding RSSs have decreased by just under 12,000 in the five months since 31 March, when 478,761 RSSs remained outstanding. Gould also revealed that, as of 2 September, 77,555 RSSs had been issued to retired members – up from 64,917 in March 2025. Of those issued, 34,783 had been returned as of 2 September. Gould said: “The department recognises that there have been delays in the processing of McCloud remedy cases. “Officials continue to closely monitor progress and work with Capita to address these delays, while also working with the incoming administrator … to ensure the remedy work is a key focus following the transition in administration.” Gould also revealed that as of 25 August, 476 cash equivalent transfer values (CETVs) remained outstanding. “The department recognises the importance of providing CETV quotations in a timely manner,” she said. “While the implementation of the remedy has had an impact on processing times, Teachers’ Pensions continues to work to manage demand and reduce delays while ensuring that members’ benefits are calculated accurately and in accordance with the requirements of the McCloud remedy.” She said the DfE “consistently monitors the scheme administrator’s performance and maintains strong oversight through contract management processes and an independent Pension Board, which includes employer and member representatives, to ensure service standards are upheld.” Schools have been told they should register on a new Teachers’ Pensions employer portal by 9 October. A notice sent by the DfE at the start of term said primary contacts – schools’ main point of contact with the TPS – “must” register on the new portal by then. “Failure to register may result in loss of access to TPS services and affect your ability to support scheme members”. The DfE has since clarified that while schools are being asked to register by 9 October “to help ensure continued access” to pension services, employers will still be able to register on the portal up to and after 1 November. The DfE said early registration would help employers prepare for the move and avoid delays in accessing services once the new portal went live.