ABSTRACT
The NFER has just completed an 18-months research project, funded under its Membership Programme, investigating the role of local education authorities in the professional development of newly qualified teachers. The research has consisted of two main phases. The first, a questionnaire survey of all LEAs in England and Wales, took place in the summer of 1992 and examined inter alia induction policies and guidance; LEA induction programmes; the assessment of new entrants; links with HEIs; continuing professional development; conditions of service and professional entitlements and other issues and concerns. An interim report based on this survey was published last year (Earley 1992) and the data re-presented in the light of the Department for Educations objectives in supporting expenditure on induction training through its GEST scheme (Earley 1993). The second phase of the project was completed in summer 1993 and consisted of case studies of induction practices in thirty schools in six LEAs which had been identified for the researchers as ‘good practice’ schools. Termly visits were made to the eighteen primary and twelve secondary case study schools and on each occasion interviews undertaken with NQTs, induction coordinators, mentors, headteachers and other personnel involved in the induction process.
