A pilot induction scheme designed to support new teachers and encourage them to stay in the profession is under way in Wales. It involves 88 newly qualified teachers, roughly 10 per cent of the national total in Wales .
A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly said: “Most teachers who leave the profession do so in the first three years. We hope the induction programme will improve teacher retention.
“Instead of new teachers being left to flounder, the aim is to support them. The induction standard is not like a test they have to pass but sets out specific targets they have to achieve.
“We plan to follow up the induction programme with a programme of early professional development which will provide additional support in the second and third years of teaching.”
Teachers taking part in the pilot are from both Welsh and English-medium schools. A cross section of primary, secondary and special schools are taking part.It is the next move towards making induction statutory from September next year.
Those who fail will be offered a one-year extension in which to pass, unlike in England where failures are struck off the teaching register.
Each NQT is allocated an induction tutor who is trained for the role and will be given time to carry out the task. At the end of induction, the headteacher will recommend to the local education authority whether a teacher has met the standards. The authority will make the final decision.
