Trainees may be referred to the Fitness to Practise Committee where evidence emerges which brings into question a trainee’s fitness to practise as a teacher. This may include, for example, issues of behaviour and attitudes, dishonesty, criminal conduct or illness. At all times the consideration of child protection shall be paramount. There may be circumstances that do not present a risk to children, but still bring into question a trainee’s fitness to practise.
Providers have a responsibility to ensure that trainees have the health and physical capacity to train to teach and will not put children and young people at risk of harm. The activities that a teacher must be able to perform are set out in the Education (Health Standards) (England) Regulations 2003. Providers are responsible for ensuring that only trainees who have the capacity to teach remain on the programme.
People with disabilities or chronic illnesses may have the capacity to train to teach, just as those without disabilities or medical conditions may be unsuitable to train to teach.
Successful applicants on the PGCE programme complete a health assessment form which is reviewed by the University’s Occupational Health team. If a follow up appointment or further information is required, this is requested by Occupational Health. All trainees must be signed off as fit to teach by our Occupational Health team. In some cases there are recommendations to support the trainee whilst on the course and in placement, and this information is provided to schools with the trainee’s consent.