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Disqualification confusion grows

disqualification confusion grows

21 January 2015

Following BBC Radio 5 live leading with this story last night, the BBC has now reported on the continuing confusion caused in primary schools as a result of the new disqualification rules.

Setting aside the question of whether this law should apply to schools at all, the main challenge for primary schools is understanding exactly who is caught by this requirement. The lack of clarity in the DfE advice has led to a varied approach across the country resulting in little consistency but a lot of confusion.

The waiver applications highlight this confusion with Ofsted confirming that 70 of the waivers received were not required. The time taken for a waiver application to be processed is also unclear, meaning that staff will be suspended for an indefinite period, causing undue stress and anxiety.

Unless clear, concise guidance is issued urgently, then with over 16,000 primary schools in England, the situation will only get worse.

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