Elements of good practice
Many schools have tackled PPA through school change teams as part of their remodelling process. Other schools have developed strategies within their existing processes and structures, for example, through their school leadership teams.
Whatever their approach, schools must have regard for the other contractual changes for teachers, set out in the School teachers' pay and conditions document (STPCD), when deciding the sustainability of any strategy or mix of strategies for the provision of PPA.
A minimum of 10 per cent PPA time must be timetabled and guaranteed and must not be forgone for cover or any other duties.
Legal requirements, and essential elements of good practice with regard to PPA, may be grouped under 10 headings:
- generic
- teachers
- newly qualified teachers (NQTs)
- support staff
- incoming staff
- instructors
- other specialist staff
- enrichment activities, and
- collaboration and ICT.
Detailed discussion of the legal requirements and elements of good practice which fall under each of the above headings is available in the WAMG document Planning, preparation and assessment strategies: good practice which forms part of the PPA resource pack.
Consultation with unions and with all staff before schools develop and implement guaranteed PPA time is a key element of good practice. The provision of PPA time must not shift teachers' other duties to evenings or weekends.
