Education Personnel Services

NQT Induction

NQTs in Sixth Form and FE Colleges

Because NQT Induction verifies the NQT's competence in teaching children of compulsory school age, an essential part of induction is to spend some time teaching, and being monitored, in a secondary school.  NQTs and college Induction Managers/Tutors should read these guidance notes and ensure that they are followed:

  • See the DCSF Guidance (link on right) paragraphs 2.8 - 2.10 and 2.60 -2.63 for detailed guidance on induction in FE colleges and the placement
  • If possible the placement should take place before the summer term, and in any case before summer half term, so that if any problems arise there is time to address them before the completion of induction and the consequent risk of failure
  • The DCSF requests colleges to make every effort to provide placements of 20-25 working days - a shorter time does not give enough time to assess the NQT's consistent performance with regard to planning, teaching and assessing under-16s.
  • DCSF Guidance states that 'the purpose of the school placement and the nature of any support the NQT will receive from the school should be agreed in advance, ideally in joint discussion involving the (FE) induction tutor, the headteacher of the school... and the NQT...'
  • The College’s NQT Induction Manager is responsible for overseeing the whole programme of support, monitoring and assessment, ensuring that in its totality it meets the requirements
  • The NQT’s Induction Tutor is responsible for the day to day school support programme and gathering of evidence to contribute to the termly assessment, by observing and collating notes with school staff
  • A designated person in the secondary school co-ordinates their element of the support programme, monitoring and assessment and ensures that it complements the 6th form college programme, provides evidence for the overall assessment process and takes day to day responsibility for the NQT’s support programme and gathering of evidence during the placement
  • The College NQT Induction Manager/Head of Department will observe the NQT in school as least once
  • The NQT  provides a link between the two elements of their induction by ensuring that their induction records reflect both and are available for both
  • The Headteacher or designated person responsible in the school makes a  recommendation to the college based on evidence gathered during the placement
  • The Principal makes the final recommendation to the Local Authority at the end of Induction based on evidence gathered from both elements of the induction

To ensure accurate, rigorous, fair and consistent assessment  the following should be put in place:

  • the college agrees with the school and the NQT how they will be given opportunities to demonstrate all the Core Standards across the two elements of the induction
  • the college agrees with school the programme of support, to ensure that it is coherent, targeted and meets the NQT’s needs, including attendance at school-based and Local Authority NQT training programmes where appropriate
  • the college gathers and collates the evidence against the Core Standards provided by the school and completes the assessment report.
  • the school communicates regularly with the college on the NQT’s support, monitoring and assessment during the placement
  • the school provides the college with written evidence against the Core Standards which they believe have been met through the work the NQT undertakes during the placement
  • the school recommends to the college whether the NQT has met the standards in respect of pre 16 pupils
  • the school and college have a joint meeting after the placement to ensure that the requirements are met and the NQT achieves a successful induction