The Department for Education has today updated its guidance on the induction of early career teachers (ECTs), making it clear that mentoring sessions are expected to be timetabled during teaching hours.
The Early Career Framework (ECF), which was rolled out nationally in September 2021, extended the induction period for newly qualified teachers (NQTs) to two years in a bid to increase recruitment and retention in the sector.
Ahead of the third year of the full programme, the DfE has updated the statutory guidance for “appropriate bodies”, headteachers, school staff and governing bodies. The changes are set to come into force on 1 September 2023.
Here’s everything you need to know about the changes.
Early Career Framework: updated DfE guidance
ECT and mentor sessions should be timetabled during teaching hours
The DfE has clarified today that ECT and mentor sessions are expected to be timetabled during teaching hours.
However, the department has said that in “exceptional circumstances” where schools “require flexibility due to timetabling constraints”, mentoring can take place outside of teaching hours.
But ECT and mentor sessions should always be scheduled within contracted time, the DfE states.
Sara Tanton, deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said that the union “welcomed” the clarification, adding that the union would expect the exception for mentoring to take place outside of these hours to “only be used in wholly exceptional circumstances where the constraint was unforeseen and no other option was available”.
However, Ms Tanton said that the ASCL remained ”concerned about the workload implications of the ECF on mentors in particular”.
In December 2021 a survey revealed that one-third of school leaders feared the ECF would drive people out of the profession.
And a report published in October showed that in August 2022 72 per cent of ECTs felt the framework added to their workload.
Local authorities will no longer oversee ECTs
From 1 September 2023 only teaching school hubs and other organisations determined by the education secretaries will be listed as being able to act as appropriate bodies, eliminating the role of local authorities (LAs).
Appropriate bodies (ABs) hold a main quality assurance role within the induction process in overseeing ECTs.
The department has said today that there will be a “transitional period” from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024, when LAs that were ABs before 1 September will be able to continue to act as appropriate bodies in a “limited capacity”.
The DfE also said today that schools will be expected to provide ABs with copies of all progress reviews from 1 September.
But Ms Tanton said that the ASCL was ”concerned about the removal of local authorities as appropriate bodies” and had “made this clear” to the DfE.
“It is another example of increasing centralisation of delivery into the hands of a small number of providers. This is not a problem unique to the ECF, but also with initial teacher training and National Professional Qualifications,” she said.
“We are worried that this drive for consistency will mean that the required degree of flexibility and ability to adapt to local need and challenge will be lost, to the detriment of the system and individuals.”
The NEU teaching union has also raised concerns. A spokesperson said: “We regret that from 2024, only teaching school hubs will perform the ‘appropriate body’ role and local authorities will not take on any new ECTs from September 2023. LAs are uniquely positioned to support ECTs and schools in their areas.
“Teachers and school leaders are already concerned about the one size fits all nature of ECF, and the ways in which this works against responsiveness to local contexts. The exclusion of local authorities will only add to this problem.”
Plan to ensure smooth continuation of induction when teachers move schools
When ECTs move schools within the two induction years, the DfE has said that the AB is is expected to ensure that the new headteacher or principal has contacted the teacher’s previous AB for the necessary reports to “ensure induction can be continued effectively”.
If agreed with the appropriate school leader, the AB will be able to contact the ECT’s previous appropriate body to obtain the necessary reports.
Rules for overseas teachers
The DfE has said today that teachers from outside the United Kingdom who are awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) are required to complete the induction if they have less than two years’ full-time experience when they are awarded QTS.
Interim reports
The DfE has also today clarified that when an interim assessment cannot be completed before the ECT leaves post, the induction tutor, headteacher or principal should still complete an interim assessment report and provide a copy to the ECT and the appropriate body.
