How teaching school hubs serving as the Appropriate Body will change the landscape

From September 2024, in line with Department for Education (DfE) reforms, teaching school
hubs (TSH) will become the main provider of Appropriate Body (AB) services, and local
authorities will withdraw from the Appropriate Body role.

The withdrawal takes place over two stages, with the first stage already well underway. From
September 2023, local authorities could no longer register any new early career teachers
(ECTs).

The guidance from the DfE outlined how schools that access Appropriate Body services
through a local authority must ensure all new ECTs are registered with a teaching school hub
Appropriate Body.

Whilst the previous model of assessment and the verifying Appropriate Body role was
valued, the DfE identified that more needed to be done to minimise workload and tighten
systems. The reforms offer a greater consistency in the Appropriate Body services that
schools receive nationally, a sentiment wholly endorsed by the Director of Inspire Learning
Teaching School Hub, Jane Kennedy.

Jane is keen to highlight the importance of registering ECTs with an Appropriate Body. She
said:

“The role of the Appropriate Body is a crucial part of the statutory Induction process. It
has the main quality assurance role within the Induction process and ensures ECTs are
monitored consistently and fairly and supports them through their two-year induction.”

Jane added: “It is imperative that schools register their ECTs with their local teaching school
hub Appropriate Body service. The formal assessment process should add value to early
career teachers, schools and the profession, and we believe the reforms are a step towards
an improved statutory Induction experience. If we are to redress the trend of teachers
leaving this glorious profession within the first 2 – 5 years, we need to support our newest
teachers whilst they are in the foothills of their professional journey"
According to feedback collected by the DfE, organisations had the overall perception that
ABs were effective in a range of their roles. However, they agreed there was an

inconsistency of approach and more work to do tackling barriers in effectively checking
entitlements, supporting ECTs, their mentors and Induction tutors.

A dedicated programme for teaching school hubs, via the Teaching School Hubs Council,
was established to help TSHs build capacity and expertise and ensure a smooth transition.

Jane said: “For the Appropriate Body role to most effective, it must allow for interventions
and challenge when statutory requirements are not being met. As the designated teaching
school hub for Liverpool and the Wirral, Inspire Learning has a deep-rooted understanding of
quality practices. We have fully embraced the DfE/TSHC quality assurance framework and
our recent peer review from a mature AB service out of area demonstrates we are fully
meeting the requirements. We are well-placed to be operating as the only Appropriate Body
in our area.”