The Appointment and Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs)

As you know, since May 1999 statutory requirements have been in place concerning the Induction of NQTs. The following documents should be used and referred to when preparing to appoint an NQT to your school, and when planning their Induction. All the documents are available on our Norfolk Schools.Click here to access the 'NQTs and Induction' section.

'Employing a Newly Qualified Teacher' is for Headteachers and Governors and provides key information about the requirements for monitoring, supporting and assessing NQTs.

The 'Overview for Schools Employing a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT)'is designed to help schools in managing the whole process from pre-appointment to completion of the induction period. It aims to help schools reflect on the responsibilities of induction, and prioritise the associated tasks. It also aims to support the development of manageable administrative systems in schools, which ensure that the statutory requirements are being addressed.

'Funding NQT Induction' provides a summary of the costs involved in employing an NQT, the budgets available to schools to meet these, and the support we provide.

The sheet outlining the 'Quality Assurance by the Appropriate Body' sets out how the Appropriate Body fulfils its own responsibilities in line with DfES requirements, whilst providing appropriate support for the teachers and schools involved in NQT Induction. If you have any comments on these arrangements, please contact Julia Stephens.

The 'NQT Registration Form 2005-06' needs to be completed by the Headteacher and returned to the Advisory Service after an NQT has been appointed.

Please note that this Registration Form is needed in addition to any information you forward to Education Personnel Services concerning the appointment of a NQT for contractual purposes.

Once the registration form has been processed, we will arrange for additional funding to be paid into your budget, and the relevant 'Induction Support Packs' will be forwarded. These packs will contain additional guidance and information on the Induction processes, expectations and arrangements.

You will notice from the registration form that we ask schools to forward a copy of the teacher's QTS certificate which is issued by the General Teaching Council (GTC). We need this confirmation of the precise date on which Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) was awarded in order to avoid unnecessary complications with schools and the GTC later in the induction process, and to confirm the teacher's eligibility to undertake induction.

Please note that a teacher can only undertake Induction if they have registered with the GTC and have been officially awarded QTS by the GTC. This award is only given after the trainee has successfully completed her/his training and has also passed all the relevant Skills Tests. The additional funding will be paid once a copy of the QTS certificate has been received by the Advisory Services.
Should you have any queries regarding QTS, please contact the GTC (Teachers' Qualifications Section) - tel 0121 345 0140

'NQT Induction: Quality Assurance by RDAs'. This checklist is designed for use by Review and Development Advisers (RDAs) when visiting schools during the early stages of induction. Schools should also use it internally to help ensure that they are making suitable induction arrangements for their NQTs, as well as be able to discuss it with their RDAs.

Even if you currently have no plans to appoint an NQT to your school, please retain this Management Information for future reference. It is not unusual for schools to appoint a NQT unexpectedly, for example when unforeseen staffing changes arise. In these circumstances it is important to have access to relevant information and guidance, particularly if such appointments are made at relatively short notice.

The DfES is currently reviewing and updating its Statutory Guidance on NQT Induction. We will inform you of any changes or implications arising from this review once these have been confirmed.

Please note that our Norfolk Schools pages 'NQTs and Induction' include the key documents from the DfES and TTA concerning NQT Induction, as well as a range of our own support materials. If you have any questions about these documents or about NQT Induction in general, please contact Julia Stephens (Adviser, NQT Induction) at the Norwich Professional Development Centre.