The School Teacher Appraisal (Wales) Regulations 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Education (School Teacher Appraisal) (Wales) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2888(W.25)).

The Regulations provide for the appraisal of the performance of school teachers (including unqualified teachers) at community, voluntary, foundation, community special, or foundation special schools, other than teachers employed under a fixed term contract for less than one year.

Part I of the Regulations contains introductory provisions, including the duty of the governing body and head teacher to secure that the performance of all school teachers at the school is appraised regularly (regulation 4) and the duty on head teachers to make an annual written report on the effectiveness of appraisal procedures to the governing body (regulation 5).

Part II of the Regulations deals with the appraisal of head teachers.

Regulation 7 provides for the governing body to appoint two or three governors as appraisers for a head teacher. An external adviser will also be appointed.

Regulations 8 and 9 make provision in relation to the appraisal cycle. The appraisal cycle normally lasts for one year, although the governing body can decide on a different length for a head teacher’s first appraisal cycle. On moving to a new post as head teacher or on becoming a head teacher, the appraisal cycle begins again.

Regulation 10 imposes a duty on the governing body to ensure that a head teacher’s first appraisal cycle begins by 31st January 2003. Regulation 11 requires the governing body to decide on the procedures for appraisal.

Regulation 12 provides for a meeting to be held between the appraisers, the external adviser and the head teacher at which they plan the appraisal and objectives are agreed or set. Regulation 13 provides that these objectives may be revised. Regulation 14 requires the procedures for monitoring performance to be set or agreed and provides for the obtaining of information by the appraisers.

Regulation 15 provides that an appraisal review must be held towards the end of the cycle. The head teacher can submit an assessment of his or her performance to be considered at the review. After the review the appraisers must prepare a written statement.

Regulation 16 gives the head teacher the right to appeal against an appraisal and sets out the procedures for appeal.

Regulations 17 and 18 provide for the disclosure, retention and use of appraisal statements. Copies must be given to certain people and may be given to others. Statements must be kept for three years.

Regulation 19 contains a transitional provision.

Part III of the Regulations deals with the appraisal of school teachers other than head teachers.

Regulation 21 provides for the head teacher to appoint an appraiser for each school teacher at a school. The appraiser can be the head teacher or another school teacher.

Regulations 22 and 23 make provision in relation to the appraisal cycle. The appraisal cycle normally lasts for one year, although the head teacher can decide on a different length for the first appraisal cycle may last up to 18 months but no less than nine months. On moving to a new post in another school, the appraisal cycle begins again, but on moving to a new post in the same school, it is for the head teacher to decide whether or not the cycle begins again.

Regulation 24 imposes a duty on the governing body to ensure that a school teacher’s first appraisal begins by 30th April 2003.

Regulation 25 requires the governing body to decide on the procedures for appraisal.

Regulation 26 provides for a meeting to be held between the appraiser and the school teacher at which they plan the appraisal and objectives are agreed or set. Regulation 27 provides that these objectives may be revised. Regulation 28 requires the procedures for monitoring performance to be set or agreed. The appraiser must observe the school teacher teaching on at least one occasion. It also provides for the obtaining of information by the appraisers.

Regulation 29 provides that an appraisal review must be held towards the end of the cycle. The school teacher can submit an assessment of his or her performance to be considered at the review. After the review the appraiser must prepare a written statement.

Regulation 30 gives the school teacher the right to appeal against an appraisal and sets out the procedures for appeal.

Regulations 31 and 32 provide for the disclosure, retention and use of appraisal statements. Copies must be given to certain people and may be given to others. Statements must be kept for three years.

Regulation 33 contains a transitional provision.