Institutions in which induction may be served

2.1 The Regulations specify that induction can be served in the following institutions:

  • a relevant school in England – this includes: a maintained school; a maintained or non-maintained nursery school; a nursery school that forms part of a maintained school; a local authority maintained children’s centre; and a pupil referral unit (PRU);
  • an independent school in England (including academies; Free Schools; 16-19 academies; alternative provision academies; and city technology colleges) or independent nursery school subject to the circumstances set out in para 2.43;
  • a further education (FE) institution including a sixth-form college in the circumstances set out in para 2.3;
  • an independent school overseas which:
    • has been inspected by a Department accredited inspectorate within the last six years against the Standards for Inspection of British Schools Overseas; and;
    • has met satisfactorily all of those standards/categories; and
    • is a member of an organisation which the Department has determined may represent such schools.
  • a school or FE institution in Wales in which an induction period may be served under Welsh regulations.

Induction in a maintained, non-maintained or independent nursery school, or maintained children’s centre

2.2 NQTs employed and completing a period or part period of statutory induction in these settings must have a headteacher who can make the recommendation against the relevant standards and must teach classes of pupils predominantly aged three and over. The headteacher must ensure that the NQT’s post is suitable for induction (see paras 2.17-2.18).

Induction in further education institutions (including sixth-form colleges and 16-19 academies)

2.3 An FE institution, sixth-form college or 16-19 academy wishing to offer an NQT a post in which to serve a statutory induction period must ensure that:

  • normally no more than 10 per cent of the NQT’s teaching in the FE institution is devoted to teaching classes predominantly consisting of pupils aged 19 and over;
  • to enable them to develop a sound knowledge and understanding of day-to-day practices and the role of a teacher in a school, NQTs must spend the equivalent of at least 10 days teaching children of compulsory school age in a school during their induction; and
  • every effort is made to provide the NQT with up to a further 15 days’ experience in a school setting.

Institutions where induction cannot be served

2.4 Workplaces which cannot offer statutory induction are:

  • a secure training centre;
  • a school requiring special measures (i.e. one which is eligible for intervention under section 62 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006), except in cases where Ofsted have judged a school, or part of a school, to be suitable to host induction (see paras 2.5-2.6);
  • an FE institution where, following an Ofsted inspection, it is reported that the overall effectiveness of the institution, or part of its education or training has been judged to be inadequate (category 4) except in cases where Ofsted has judged the institution or part of the institution to be suitable to host induction (see para 2.7); and
  • an FE institution that has received a category 4 for leadership and management

3 Independent schools (including academies, Free Schools, British Schools Overseas) are not required to offer statutory induction to their NQTs, but if they choose to do so must adhere to the regulations and statutory guidance.