DfE relaxes teacher training rules in light of Covid disruption
The DfE has confirmed that it will allow trainee teacher rules to be relaxed to support training providers who have struggled to meet current requirements due to Covid disruption.
Providers will be able to apply to the DfE for “additional support” which includes the relaxation of the requirement for trainees to have taught in a minimum of two schools, along with the requirement that no training programme should cover fewer than four consecutive school years.
The DfE has already relaxed the rules relating to qualified teacher status (QTS) based on progress during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 periods.
The relaxation of the training rules will not be automatic, and providers will be required to contact the DfE in the first instance if the issue relates to finding school placements.
Providers will need to present evidence that they took all the necessary steps to meet the required elements of the training criteria and they must also demonstrate that any failings were as a result of Covid disruption.
Subject to tabling this evidence, the advice states that the “DfE will confirm which relaxations it approves for a specified number of trainees,” and will “inform Ofsted of these relaxations so that any future inspections take them into account.” Contact us for assistance.
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