Induction & the Work of ISCtip

Induction was introduced in May 1999 in England and in April 2003 in Wales. From these dates all teachers gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) have been required to undertake induction if they wish to teach in the maintained sector and to register with the General Teaching Council (GTC). This also applies to those experienced teachers who are currently seeking QTS, or will seek QTS in the future, via the Graduate Teaching Programme (GTP).

The Independent Schools Council Teacher Induction Panel (ISCtip) was established in 1999 to provide statutory induction for NQTs wishing to teach in the independent sector in England (and from 2003 in Wales).

The Panel's success is reflected in the fact that in 2006 over 1150 NQTs were registered with the Panel and undergoing induction in ISC schools.

The work of the panel is supported by its Director of Induction, Judith Fenn, her administrator, Wendy Sutton-Miller, and its quality assurance officers. Click here to access contact details for ISCtip officers. The officers provide assistance and individual advice for NQTs, induction tutors and schools, organise termly regional meetings for NQTs and provide training sessions for induction tutors. Over 15% of all participating schools and NQTs are visited for purposes of quality audit. Many quality audit visits are random; others may be arranged following concerns being raised either by the school, the NQT or the Director of Induction. The great majority of visits provide the necessary reassurance that the procedures are being followed correctly. In many cases, visits provide opportunities for head, tutor, mentor or NQT to raise issues of concern which can be addressed and difficulties resolved.

Satisfactory completion of induction does not confer any additional qualification or formal status on an NQT but does enable the NQT to seek teaching posts in maintained schools and to register with the General Teaching Council in England or Wales. Without completing statutory induction, teachers can still teach in the independent sector but cannot transfer to the maintained sector.