Through its partners, RiT is providing support to refugee teachers wanting to requalify to teach in England. RiT focuses on employment based routes to QTS which refugee teachers can access through the four year teaching opportunity. The four year rule is intended to allow overseas trained teachers to qualify to teach in maintained and non-maintained schools in England through working as unqualified teachers.
More information: The four year rule and employment based routes.
Role of employers
Through the RiT database we know that refugee teachers are working in schools as volunteers, teaching assistants or through supply agencies. However, many are not being supported to make use of the 4 year rule or employment based training to QTS. This can be down to providing better information, but there are a number of additional policy issues that address this gap. RiT is doing so through its partners, developing policy and information briefings, membership of policy and strategic groups and responding to Government directly.
Recruitment and Criminal Records Bureau
Employers are not always clear on issues relating to the documents refugees will have and entitlement to work. In addition, refugee teachers may not have been in the UK for 5 years and therefore CRB checks only cover a limited period. Accessing additional information from other countries is problematic as refugees have fled persecution which is often state sponsored. RiT is currently consulting a range of stakeholders to publish guidelines for employers on recruiting refugee teachers.
More information: Recruiting Refugee Teachers (PDF)
Equality and Diversity
Promoting good race relations is a key duty for schools and other public bodies. The effect of this duty extends to admissions, recruitment, the curriculum and engagement in the wider community. Schools also have a new duty to promote community cohesion. As a result, Ofsted has a duty to monitor and inspect.
More information on how refugee teachers can enable schools to better meet these obligations, see: Equality and Diversity briefing
Access to Further Education and English Language Courses
Changes to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding mean that refugees are entitled to funding if they are part of a priority group. (see English language link). Through the Refugee Council’s wider policy work, RiT continues to support widening access to funding for refugees.
More information: Refugee Council ESOL briefing
