A:2:F:3 Course Structure: Discipline and Appeals
Attendance Policy
The Teachers’ Standards and associated ITT criteria set out minimum requirements regarding time spent
on various activities during the course. To demonstrate that these have been met we will need to keep
accurate records of your attendance. You are therefore required to ensure that you sign the relevant
registers for morning and afternoon sessions. Failure to sign may well result in an absence being recorded.
Schools will also keep a record of your attendance during times of school-based experience and report any
absences, whether sanctioned or not, to the Director of Operations. Trainees must seek permission of the
Principal to be absent from centre-based sessions and of the appropriate school’s Headteacher for
proposed absences during school-based experience. Heads will be guided by the normal conventions
regarding absence of serving teachers in granting such permission. Leave of absence to attend interviews
is of course granted, but in the case of trainees, judgement needs to be exercised in the case of requests
to visit schools prior to application or interview. There is a fine balance between the needs of the job
application process and the school experience time needed to secure QTS. You should be in school on
school training closure days UNLESS there are lectures at the Priory Centre.
You should note that information regarding attendance and number of days absent due to sickness will be
kept in your personal file.
Absence Procedures (centre based days)
It is your responsibility to inform the Director of Operations of your absence by 8.30 a.m. (at the latest)
leaving a message on the answer-phone if necessary. The reasons for your absence/lateness must be
given and an absence form completed. If you are absent for more than 5 consecutive working days a
medical certificate will be required. A medical certificate is also needed if the absence directly affects an
assessment opportunity.
Absence procedures (school-based days)
It is your responsibility to inform your school by the deadline outlined in the school’s absence policy and
also to inform the centre giving reasons for your absence/lateness. If your absence is for more than 5
consecutive working days you must obtain a medical certificate, otherwise you must complete an absence
form either on your return to school or when you return to the centre.
When you are absent for more than 15% of an assessed Teaching Experience it is likely that you will be
unable to provide all of the evidence required to meet the standards. Your circumstances will then be
reviewed by the Programme Team who are empowered to offer:



an extension of the experience in the same school
a further short experience in a different school
deferment of the award of QTS into the following academic year for a period of further schoolbased experience, the nature and location of which will be determined by the Team.
Outstanding Training through Partnership
The Priory Centre, 63 Newnham Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9QJ
t: 01234 408590 f: 01234 408591
e: [email protected]
www.pilgrim-partnership.org.uk
Leave of Absence
As a general principle, attendance at routine medical appointments for self or family should not require
absence from the normal working day. Applications for leave of absence as defined by the Teachers’ Pay
and Conditions Document or other legislation appertaining to teachers will be considered by the Base or
Partner School headteachers during school-based activities and by the Principal during centre-based time.
Further guidance is given below.
Leave of Absence should be requested, prior to the event, using the Leave of Absence form available on
the intranet.
Punctuality
You must meet the statutory requirements for being in attendance before and after school sessions.
Contrary to popular misconception teaching is not a 9 to 3.30 occupation and as newcomers to the
profession you should seek guidance from the outset from your mentor about the ‘extra’ hours that are the
norm for teachers. Notwithstanding the Workforce Reforms introduced from September 2005 to address
the issue of work/life balance schools often vary considerably in their expectations regarding this and to
start with a good rule of thumb is to arrive when the car park is half-full and leave when it is half-empty.
Use the ‘extra’ time in school profitably so that if you have no planning or assessments to complete or
meetings to attend you will find that there is almost certain to be a member of staff who would value your
assistance in working on a task that will enhance your experience.
The Absence Policy will enable the Pilgrim Partnership to exercise its responsibilities in relation to ensuring
that you pursue your studies with diligence and avail yourself of the educational opportunities made
available. It recognises that in this intensive, one-year course absence, for whatever reason, leads to
missed learning opportunities which may impact on the evidence you have at the end of the course relating
to your demonstration of the standards. It is therefore expected that you will be regular and punctual in
attendance at all centre and school based sessions prescribed by the course.
Self Certificated Absence
For absences of three days or less, you will be required to complete the absence form obtainable from the
office or from the intranet.
Medically statemented sickness
If you are absent for more than five consecutive working days a medical certificate or statement signed by
a doctor must be sent to the Principal as soon as practicable.
If you remain ill when the note expires, the doctor must be asked for a further note.
If the absence is going to be for a prolonged period (over 4 weeks) the situation will be referred to the
Principal to determine whether you should be deferred on medical grounds. If you are subject to an ongoing illness, such as depression, arthritis, unstable diabetes or asthma, you should submit a form for
mitigation circumstances together with a medical certificate which explains the extent of the illness and the
likely effect on your progress through the course.
Convalescence
The nature of the course does not allow for light duties or other ways of reducing the workload. When
returning to work after an extended period of absence you may be required to submit to a medical
examination by Occupational Health.
www.pilgrim-partnership.org.uk
01234 408590
Maternity Leave
Maternity leave is not available within this course. A trainee who becomes pregnant during the course can
apply to have the course deferred for one year only, subject to there being no substantial change to the
requirements for QTS during the deferment.
Paternity leave is not available within this course. See compassionate leave below.
Routine (i.e. non-emergency) medical appointments should not be made during the working day.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence for other reasons may be granted by the Directors acting on behalf of the Senior
Management Team. For absences longer than 2 consecutive days or for a cumulative total of more than 5
days the request will require approval of the Partnership Board. The Partnership Board will delegate
authority to its Chair to grant absences which bring the cumulative total to less than 10 days.
It is expected that an application will be made for leave of absence, in writing, using the agreed form, at
least 2 working days before the absence occurs. In the case of absence included in private and personal or
compassionate categories a completed form should be submitted to the Partnership office on the return to
study.
The following outlines the rationale for decisions relating to common requests for leave of absence. It
should not be seen as an exhaustive list, but serves as an indication as to how leave of absence decisions
will be expedited.
Graduation Ceremonies
Absence of one day to attend a graduation ceremony for a first degree will be granted. Any requests for
travelling time associated with this would not be expected to exceed half a day in total.
Interviews
All reasonable requests will be honoured. Decisions relating to absence for interviews abroad or in places
involving extra days for travel will be limited to a cumulative maximum of 3 working days in the year.
Visits to schools before application/interview
Given the open-ended nature of these absences and the significant demands of the course, leave of
absence will not be granted for these visits. In refusing the application, the Principal will, if requested,
contact the school in question and informing them both of your expression of interest, and the rationale for
the refusal of the application.
Visits to schools prior to employment
One day will be granted before the end of the training course to attend the transition day in school.
Compassionate Leave
In the event of such emergencies as bereavement, serious accident or illness of an immediate family
member/dependant, up to 3 working days will be allowed for the death of a father, mother, son, daughter,
brother or sister and up to 5 working days leave on the death of a husband or wife. Requests for additional
compassionate leave or in the case of a cumulative total of more than 10 working days must be referred to
the Senior Management Team.
www.pilgrim-partnership.org.uk
01234 408590
Private and Personal
A maximum of 2 days at any one time will be granted for the purposes of urgent and unforeseen personal
business which does not come under the scope of compassionate leave or to fulfil an important and
significant personal commitment which cannot be undertaken at any other time.
Statutory Leave of Absence
Up to a cumulative total of 10 working days during the course will be allowed. However, given the intense
nature of the course, you are advised that membership of bodies requiring such absence should be
reviewed.
www.pilgrim-partnership.org.uk
01234 408590