This policy (which is subject to annual review) relates to all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes offered by the Institute of Education. This policy applies to assessed placements leading to QTS qualifications but does not apply to students studying on a ‘School Direct’ or ‘SCITT’ programme.
Updated Covid 19 Information for Education Primary QTS Finalist Students –26th March 2020
Dear Students of the Institute of Education,
The attachment included with this communication is the DfE policy statement regarding Initial Teacher Training and Covid-19.
We recognise that this may raise a number of questions for you, as it does for providers of programmes leading to QTS. We are working with the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the DfE to seek further clarification.
Following the announcement from the Prime Minister on 23rd March of a national restriction (lockdown), we would like to reiterate that you should not be going into schools that remain open. If you are supporting pupils’ online learning, please continue to do so. In addition, there will be a set of professional development activities available from 30th March, which you should access during the time you would normally be on school placement. Please ensure you take your Easter break as usual. Supporting pupils with online learning and engaging with the aforementioned professional development activities will develop valuable experience and expertise in online learning and enable you to continue to evidence your development against the Teachers’ Standards. If this raises any concerns for you, please contact your Partnership Tutor and copy in your Personal Tutor (London students – please contact your Personal Tutor). If you are a School Direct student, please contact your Partner Programme Leader (PPL) and copy in your University Programme Leader (UPL).
We recognise this is an anxious time for you but please be rest assured that the university will look to consider individual student circumstances in a positive light and work to find positive outcomes wherever possible. Please continue to keep yourself and others safe by following the Public Health England guidance at all times; wash your hands for 20 seconds and use a tissue for coughing then wash your hands. More importantly if you feel unwell at any time, please follow the PHE guidance.
Warmest wishes
Ruth Harrison-Palmer
Director Institute of Education
Updated Covid 19 Information for PGCE with QTS (Secondary) Students – 26th March 2020
Dear Students of the Institute of Education,
The attachment included with this communication is the DfE policy statement regarding Initial Teacher Training and Covid-19.
We recognise that this may raise a number of questions for you, as it does for providers of QTS programmes. We are working with the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the DfE to seek further clarification.
Following the announcement from the Prime Minister on 23rd March of a national restriction (lockdown), we would like to reiterate that you should not be going into schools that remain open. If you are supporting pupils’ online learning, please continue to do so. In addition, your course team are preparing a set of professional development activities which you should access during the time you would normally be on school placement. Your programme team will provide further clarity on engaging with these activities by the end of the Easter break. Please ensure you take your Easter break as usual. Supporting pupils with online learning and engaging with the aforementioned professional development activities will develop valuable experience and expertise in online learning and enable you to continue to evidence your development against the Teachers’ Standards. If this raises any concerns for you, please contact your Personal Tutor (Core students) or Programme Partnership Lead (PPL) and or University Partnership Lead (UPL - School direct students).
We recognise this is an anxious time for you but please be rest assured that the university will look to consider individual student circumstances in a positive light and work to find positive outcomes wherever possible. Please continue to keep yourself and others safe by following the Public Health England guidance at all times; wash your hands for 20 seconds and use a tissue for coughing then wash your hands. More importantly if you feel unwell at any time, please follow the PHE guidance.
Warmest wishes
Ruth Harrison-Palmer
Director Institute of Education
24th March 2020
Dear Institute of Education Student,
I hope you, your family and friends are continuing to keep safe and well.
You may have seen some media discussion over the weekend about the timing of schools re-opening. In response, the DfE issued the statement that ‘No decision has been made on a timetable for re-opening schools. Schools remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and the most vulnerable children. Schools will only re-open when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so’.
We recognise that the uncertainty this presents may cause some anxiety. To provide some reassurance, if schools do re-open before the end of the academic year, we will not require you to return (finalists) or start your placement (non-finalists), unless instructed by the DfE to do so. If you are currently due to be on placement, please continue to engage with the professional development activity that has been set for you. If you are due to go out on placement, further information will be provided to you in due course.
Final year students may be concerned about whether they will be able to be recommended for QTS at the end of their course. We are following DfE guidance that ITE providers should make an initial judgement on trajectory towards QTS based on assessments already made. These judgements should be refined as programmes continue and confirmed or otherwise at the end. Recommendations for QTS should be made by accredited providers only at the end of the ITE programmes.
Colleagues are using evidence available to make an initial judgement, which will be communicated to final year students week beginning 4th May. Please be rest assured that the university will look to consider individual student circumstances and work to find positive outcomes wherever possible.
If this raises any questions or concerns for you, please contact your Personal Tutor (PPL for School Direct) or University Partnership Tutor.
Warmest wishes
Ruth Harrison-Palmer
Director of the Institute of Education
