New teachers need guaranteed posts to complete their training

2 November 2007

A survey of Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) across the UK, undertaken by the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT), has found that NQTs in Scotland benefit from a guaranteed induction year while those in England, and particularly Wales, often find it difficult to gain the teaching post they need to be able to complete their induction. PAT is recommending that a  guaranteed induction year for all NQTs across the UK should be considered.

The research follows on from PAT's 2006 Annual Conference, where members voted in favour of the motion ‘Conference calls on the Governments of England and Wales to follow the good example of Scotland and guarantee an induction year for all students who complete Initial Teacher Training.’  The Education Committee (EC) of PAT's Council subsequently agreed that a working group should be set up to research the issue.

Principal Officer (Education) Alison Johnston, who co-ordinated the research team, said: "Anecdotal evidence suggested that there were a decreasing number of opportunities for NQTs to secure the teaching posts they needed to complete an induction period. Teachers in England and Wales may be lost to the profession if they are unable to complete their induction period within five years. Our research project therefore aimed to:

compare access to appropriate employment for NQTs in England, Wales and Scotland;
assess the potential benefits of a guaranteed induction period; 
 raise awareness with relevant organisations."
During 2006 and 2007, the research team undertook:

a postal, school distribution and online questionnaire survey of NQTs undergoing their induction period and those who had recently completed it, including both PAT members and non-members;
a survey of PAT head teacher members; and
telephone interviews with a sample of head teacher members.

Key findings

• Demand for teaching posts far outstripped the supply of such posts – there was tough competition amongst NQTs to secure a post of any kind following Initial Teacher Training (ITT).  Some took posts for which they were not specifically trained.
• In order to start teaching, NQTs in Wales and England will take on supply work, without any assurance from their school or local authority that this work will contribute to their induction period.
• Other posts secured included temporary or part-time work with no guarantee of being able to start the required induction period.
• Examples were given where NQTs took posts in several schools before completing their induction period.
• Additional burdens are placed on NQTs in England and Wales who are unable to settle in a secure post and develop consistent working patterns.  As a result, they become anxious about completing their induction period.
• For some NQTs in Scotland, a guaranteed induction year brought peace of mind and assurance of continued work in the profession following induction.
• For others, there remains the challenge of obtaining a permanent post at the end of the induction year.  Anecdotal evidence indicated that a guaranteed induction year is not good for the profession as it provides a ‘back door route’ into a permanent job for some who may not succeed through the usual recruitment process.  
• NQTs in Wales reported that demand and competition for appropriate teaching posts exceeded the number of vacancies.  It is evident that the challenge of securing a post is significantly greater than in England or Scotland.
• There was a clear feeling among NQTs in Wales that all United Kingdom induction systems should be standardised.  In terms of equality and fairness, it was felt that the Scottish model should be adopted.  The reliance on supply work, at numerous schools and in several Local Authorities, could be solved by the introduction of a Guaranteed Induction Year.

PAT's Recommendations

• We would not want a return to the recruitment problems now largely addressed by the successful campaign led by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) in recent years.
• Our evidence suggests that NQTs trained in subjects of greatest demand – modern foreign languages, science and maths, for example – are more likely to complete their induction period within the required time because they were able to secure appropriate posts at an earlier stage.
• There is a strong likelihood that a long and disjointed induction period for NQTs who were unable to take up such positions may lead to disaffection and ultimate loss to the profession.
• PAT has responded to the DCSF consultation proposing changes to the regulations and guidance for the induction of NQTs, making a recommendation that a guaranteed induction period for NQTs be given serious consideration, in order to provide a more standardised and equal opportunity for NQTs.*