The induction year for newly qualified teachers

Your induction year usually begins with your first paid teaching post and will help you to develop your teaching skills. Induction can be carried out in nearly all state schools except in pupil referral units (PRU) and those on special measures. It can also be carried out in independent schools as long as they have an ‘appropriate body’ (eg a local authority or Independent Schools Council teacher induction panel – ISCTIP).

When you can start

There is no time limit between getting your teaching qualification and starting your induction year, but it’s a good idea to apply soon after your course when everything you’ve learned is still fresh in your mind. The programme is flexible so you can choose when and where you wish to complete the three school terms (you can even work in a different school each term). Once you’ve started your induction programme you’ll normally be expected to complete it within five years. If you’re considering supply teaching, you must start your induction within four terms of starting any supply teaching job, even if it is only to do a couple of days’ cover.

Strengthening your skills

The purpose of induction is to strengthen the skills you’ve already acquired during training and to gain further teaching experience.

The purpose of induction is to strengthen the skills you’ve already acquired during training and to gain further teaching experience – on successful completion of induction you should be able to teach confidently in any school. You will receive plenty of support and feedback and be able to observe colleagues and have your own lessons observed. Your induction school will share responsibility with your local authority (LA) for training and supporting you and they will devise a personalised programme with your induction tutor.

No amount of training can completely prepare you for the reality of the classroom, but in your induction year you will finally get a chance to start developing your own teaching style. As a newly qualified teacher (NQT) you won’t be alone and you won’t be expected to know everything, so don’t hesitate to approach your induction tutor with any concerns you have. Other teachers within your school will also offer you their support, as well as your union, your LA and independent teacher support organisations such as the Teacher Support Network.

Induction support

As an NQT there will be plenty of support on offer for you. This will include a 10 % reduction in your timetable compared to other staff; an identified induction tutor who is an experienced teacher; an individualised programme of support and activities to help meet personal objectives and induction standards; appropriate support in compiling your career entry and development profile (CEDP), which provides a bridge between training and continuing career development beyond induction; half-termly observations, with oral and written feedback; set objectives that are jointly reviewed every half term; and a formal assessment meeting and report towards the end of each term.

Questions to ask your employer about induction

• Will my induction tutor be an experienced teacher?
• What time will be allocated to facilitate meetings with my induction tutor?
• Does this school work in isolation or with other schools to deliver induction?
• Will I have a teaching assistant? (mainly primary)
• Will I be a form tutor? (secondary)
• Have other NQTs recently joined the school?

We would like to thank the Teacher Support Network, the national independent charity providing free support services to improve the well-being of teachers, for helping with this article.