These Regulations set out the arrangements, which will apply from 1 September 1999, for the appraisal of teachers in maintained schools in Wales.

They replace the existing Education (School Teacher Appraisal) Regulations 1991, which are made under sections 49 and 63 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986, and apply in England and Wales.

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 changed the framework for schools and so the types of schools defined in the 1991 regulations will no longer exist. These regulations apply the existing appraisal arrangements to the new categories of schools immediately they are established.

As a result, the local education authority will be the appraising body for teachers at all maintained schools, other than former grant-maintained and grant-maintained special schools. The governing body will continue to be the appraising body for former grant maintained and grant maintained special schools. Teachers at schools in the new categories of foundation and foundation special schools will be treated in the same way as teachers at voluntary aided schools for appraisal purposes.

The Regulations also make amendments to take account of the abolition of probation for newly qualified teachers. The definition of “qualified teacher” is amended because the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1989, to which the definition referred, have been revoked and replaced.