Appointing Qualified Teachers: A Brief Guide for Employers (Revised January 2008)

From 1st September, 2008, the following people can do 'specified work' (the way that the law describes usual teaching activity) in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England:

	teachers with qualified teacher status (QTS);
	trainee teachers on mainstream or employment based routes to QTS;
	Overseas trained teachers who have worked here for less than 4 years since the first date they did so;
	instructors (as defined in the guide); and
	support staff (subject to their having the necessary skills and being supervised and directed by a qualified teacher).

There will no longer be a category of 'unqualified teacher who has yet to pass their skills tests'. For more information, please access the TDA website.

Instructors and support staff do not have to pass the tests because they do not have the same range of responsibilities and do not have to meet the standards that qualified teachers do. Please also see WAMG Note 17 for the Effective Deployment of HLTAs.

Beyond the exceptions given above, you should expect that anyone you plan to appoint does have QTS and the only way to be certain, regardless of any other qualifications they may offer you, is to check with the GTCE on 0121 345 0140.

If you have a query or need to discuss an individual situation in your school, please contact your HR Consultant or HR Officer. Alternatively, please contact either Peter Simmonds on 07795 265669 or by email, or Virginia Wakely on 01603 638092 or by email.

For advice and support on support staff training and development opportunities, including HLTA courses, please contact Denise Beckett, Training & Development Co-ordinator for School Support Staff, on 01603 222743 or by email.