Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications and Induction Arrangements) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and come into force on 21st May 2020.

Amendments to the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2003

2.—(1) Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2003(2) (qualified teacher status requirements) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1, after the definition of “the CNAA”, insert—

““coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);”.

(3) Paragraph 7 becomes paragraph 7(1).

(4) In paragraph 7(1)—

(a)sub-paragraph (c) becomes sub-paragraph (c)(i);

(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (c)(i), for “; and” substitute “, or”;

(c)after sub-paragraph (c)(i), insert—

“(ii)has been unable, for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus, to undertake such a period wholly or mainly in an institution in England or in a school administered by Service Children’s Education, but before 1st September 2020 does so in a school or other institution outside England; and”;

(d)sub-paragraph (d) becomes sub-paragraph (d)(i);

(e)at the end of sub-paragraph (d)(i), insert “, or”;

(f)after sub-paragraph (d)(i), insert—

“(ii)has been unable to meet the specified standards for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus but, before 1st September 2020, is assessed by the accredited institution as demonstrating adequate progress towards meeting them such that the accredited institution is satisfied that the person would have met them but for that reason.”.

(5) In paragraph 10—

(a)sub-paragraph (1)(b) becomes sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i);

(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i), insert “, or”;

(c)after sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i), insert—

“(ii)has been unable to meet the specified standards for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus but, before 1st September 2020, is assessed by an accredited institution as demonstrating adequate progress towards meeting them such that the accredited institution is satisfied that the person would have met them but for that reason.”.

Amendments to the Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) Regulations 2012

3.—(1) The Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) Regulations 2012(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 8 (extension of an induction period before completion)—

(a)after paragraph (1), insert—

“(1A) For the purposes of paragraph 1, no account is to be taken of any absence before 1st September 2020 which is for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus.”;

(b)after paragraph (4), insert—

“(5) In paragraph (1A) “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to secondary legislation relating to school teachers’ qualifications and induction periods, in order to amend requirements which would otherwise not operate as intended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Regulation 2 amends the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2003. It relaxes requirements, during the period between the coming into force of these Regulations and 1st September 2020, to have met prescribed standards before achieving qualified teacher status where it has not been possible to do so for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. In addition, it provides that, during the same period, a person may complete a period of practical teaching experience which is a requirement of achieving qualified teacher status in a school or other institution outside England where it has not been possible to do so wholly or mainly in an institution in England or in a school administered by Service Children’s Education.

Regulation 3 amends the Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) Regulations 2012 to allow a school teacher to complete a statutory induction period without it being extended due to absence from work of 30 or more days if that absence would have been less than 30 days but for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.