Office of Public Sector Information
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke and replace the Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (Consolidation) (England) Regulations 2001 as amended. They come into force on 1st September 2008.
No qualified teacher can be employed in a maintained school or a non-maintained special school unless that person has satisfactorily completed an induction period in accordance with these Regulations (regulation 7). There are exceptions to this, however. They are set out in Schedule 2.
The changes of substance in relation to the previous induction arrangements include provisions that allow a person to serve an induction period in a further education institution (regulation 8). These Regulations also make different provision for the length of the induction period, including provision for reducing the induction period in specified circumstances.
A person can serve an induction period in a maintained school or a non-maintained special school. Induction can also be served in a further education institution or an independent school subject to prescribed conditions (regulation 8).
The length of the induction period will vary depending on the circumstances. Where a person in full-time employment serves the induction period wholly in one or more schools which operate a 3 term or a 6 term school year, the induction period is 3 terms or 6 terms respectively. However, this only applies where the person serves an induction period which consists entirely of full terms. In all other cases, the length of the induction period is to be determined in accordance with paragraph (4) of regulation 9 and will depend on whether the person begins serving the period in a school or further education institution. In all cases, the length of the induction period may be reduced by a period not exceeding 29 operating days (regulation 9(5)).
Only periods of continuous employment lasting a minimum of one term count towards an induction period (regulation 10). The induction period must be extended where a person has been absent for 30 or more days (regulation 11). Regulation 13 makes provision for a person’s supervision and training when serving an induction period, and regulation 14 makes provision about which appropriate body and head teacher are responsible for assessing a person’s induction in any case where a person is serving induction in more than one institution at the same time.
The Secretary of State sets standards which must be met by a person serving induction, if that person is to complete the induction period satisfactorily (regulation 15). On completion of that period, the head teacher of the school or principal of the further education institution where that person completes induction, must make a recommendation as to whether those standards have been met. That head teacher or principal must then inform the appropriate body of the recommendation. The appropriate body then has to decide whether or not that person has satisfactorily completed induction or whether that person should have their induction period extended (regulation 16). A person who has failed to complete induction satisfactorily can appeal that decision to the General Teaching Council for England. Schedule 4 sets out the procedure for such appeals.
The appropriate body for the purposes of these Regulations is the local authority where the person is serving an induction period in a maintained school or a non-maintained special school. The appropriate body where induction is served in a further education institution is any local authority, and in an independent school is a local authority or a body decided by the Secretary of State.
Any person exercising functions under these Regulations must have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. This guidance can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.
The Explanatory Memorandum for this instrument is available on the website of the Office of Public Sector Information, www.opsi.gov.uk.
The Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) Regulations 2008