The Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (Wales) Regulations 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”) to enable certain teachers in independent schools or certain further education teachers employed at further education institutions or as instructors at schools, to be awarded qualified teacher status.

Under the amended Regulations, a teacher may now be recommended for qualified teacher status if he or she is currently employed as a teacher in an independent school, has been assessed as meeting the standards for qualified teacher status and holds one of the qualifications specified in the Regulations, provided he or she was employed as a teacher at an independent school before 1st September 1989. Broadly, the specified qualifications are degrees and other qualifications approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of the award of qualified teacher status and obtained before 1st January 1974 and degrees approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of the award of qualified teacher status and obtained before 1st September 1989. Qualified teacher status may be awarded to such teachers on the recommendation of the head teacher or principal of the independent school at which they are employed, or in the case of the head teacher or principal of an independent school, on the recommendation of the chairman of the school’s governing body, or if none the school’s proprietor — see regulations 5 and 6 (which insert new paragraphs 10 and 12—19 in Schedule 3 to the 1999 Regulations).

Under the amended Regulations further education teachers may now be recommended for qualified teacher status if certain conditions are satisfied. Those conditions are that the teacher is employed as a teacher in a further education institution or as an instructor in a school, has been assessed as meeting the specified standards, holds one of the qualifications specified in Part II of Schedule 3 or a degree, was employed as a teacher at a further education institution before 1st September 1989, holds a Certificate in Education or a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, and in the opinion of the recommending body has sufficient teaching experience to be able to teach pupils aged 14—19 years — see regulations 5 and 6 (inserting new paragraphs 11 and 12—19 in Schedule 3 to the 1999 Regulations).