A newly qualified teacher has to complete a successful induction year in an English school if he or she wants to have a teaching career in the maintained sector here. Teachers who take up posts in British schools abroad miss out.
On July 6 Lord Lexden raised this issue during the Lords committee stage of the government's Education Bill now before Parliament. He did so in his capacity as Vice-President of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) which is an accrediting body for British schools abroad. In response to his intervention, the government made clear that it would take steps to enable teachers to serve their induction year in COBIS schools and in those accredited by other reputable British schools overseas organisations.