The Education (Bursaries for School Teacher Training) (England) Regulations 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply to England, authorise the Secretary of State to pay bursaries and grant to facilitate and encourage the training of qualified school teachers (excluding head teachers and fast track teachers) and of classroom assistants. Bursaries and grant are only available in respect of training approved by the Secretary of State (regulation 2).

A teacher is eligible for bursaries and grant if he has satisfactorily completed his induction period before the year in which he undertakes or commits himself to undertake approved training (regulation 4) and has completed between three and five years service as a teacher on 1st September preceding that year (regulation 6). Supply and unattached teachers must have taught for not less than 20 days in the year to be eligible (regulation 4). “Year” for this purpose is the period of 12 months beginning on 1st April 2002 or 1st April 2003 (regulation 2).

A teacher is also eligible for bursaries and grant, and a classroom assistant is so eligible, in any year in which he is awarded a National Teaching Award (regulation 6).

Bursaries and grant are payable up to a total of £500 in any year (regulation 8). Teachers, classroom assistants and persons to whom grant is paid are required to keep records of expenditure for 3 years (regulation 10) and the Secretary of State may require bursaries or grant to be repaid if she considers that it has been paid on the basis of incorrect information (regulation 11).