completion of induction year

By Sean Russell

Question:
I successfully completed my PGCE in 1997 and worked in a school from October to April on temporary contracts. I returned to teaching in May 2000 part-time then full-time from September.

The first school gave me no formal support and there were no formal records kept. The second school took my previous experience into account and some private tutoring and post-16 lecturing I did and paid me at point 3 CPS. My concern is that I have not formally completed my induction year and I am worried I could lose my QTS.

Sean Russell, careers adviser, answers:
It is important to draw a distinction between QTS and induction. Successfully completing a PGCE will give you QTS status. Once you have this, you cannot lose it. I rather think that you are actually thinking more of the induction period. Those qualifying after May 7 1999 will need to complete a period of induction equivalent to three terms if they wish to teach in the maintained sector.

There is no limit to the time that can elapse between gaining QTS and completing induction unless someone is in receipt of a shortage subject training salary in which case induction must be completed within a year. You, on the other hand, qualified before this date and are not entitled or required to complete an induction programme. It would be useful if your school could provide a similar programme to support you, but neither they or LEAs are obliged to.

I suspect this may have cleared up a possible confusion between QTS and induction, but you can always look at the Teacher Training Agency website for more detailed information and the excellent FAQs section.

However, if you feel you have missed out on more formal support, feedback and evaluation, all of which are important for your own professional development, make sure you are clear about your continuing training needs.

The best way of doing this ids through the formal appraisal system your school should operate. But also be proactive: look on the noticeboard for courses that interest you and at your local university's department of education for courses which they run. You may also consider distance-learning courses such as the MA in education provided by the Open University.