Explanatory note

These Regulations amend The Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1997 (“the principal Regulations”), and come into force on the same date as they do: 1st September 1997.

The amendments ensure that a course for the initial training of teachers which involves full-time attendance for the purposes of study or teaching practice for 30 weeks a year continues to be a designated course under regulation 10(1)(d) of the principal Regulations, even if the course involves less than 19 weeks of full-time study as provided for in the revised definition of “sandwich course” in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 5 to the principal Regulations.

Regulation 20 of the principal Regulations has been amended so that the provisions relating to sandwich courses do not apply to courses for the initial training of teachers, in light of the revised application to such courses of regulation 22 and paragraph (a)(v) of Schedule 1 mentioned below.

Regulation 22 of the principal Regulations, which provides for the reduction of maintenance payments where teacher training courses are not full-time, has been amended so that it only applies in years where there is less than 30 weeks’ full-time attendance for the purposes of study or teaching practice.

Paragraph (a)(v) of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations has been substituted so that half fees are payable in respect of any course for the initial training of teachers where the periods of full-time study are in aggregate less than 10 weeks, whether or not attendance over the year has been part-time, full-time or partly part-time and partly full-time.

The Regulations correct a typographical error in paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations.