NAAIDT: Appointing Staff

	Introduction
	Qualities
	Related Publications
	Training Institutions

Information for School Managers when Appointing Staff to Teach in Workshops

Introduction

When appointing a teacher to teach in a workshop in your school, what criteria operate at selection?

As you will be aware there is an onus on the Head of a School and the Governing Body to ensure that all staff who teach pupils in workshops are:

	adequately trained in the safe use of machinery and equipment, as well as the safe handling of processes;
	qualified to teach all pupils in the safe use of machinery, equipment, and the safe handling of processes;
	able to receive from time to time revision on good practice when using machinery, equipment and processes in school workshops.

This Guideline has been produced by the National Association of Advisers and Inspectors in Design and Technology following a survey of safety training courses in colleges of initial teacher training in 1994/5.

The information given in this Guideline may help a school appointments panel to assess an applicant's qualities, especially in the area of safety training.

Qualities

When appointments are being made the following qualities are often sought from the letters of application, or at the interview:

	initial teacher training and academic record in general;
	an appreciation of the philosophy of designing and making;
	an understanding of the National Curriculum and associated assessment issues;
	the candidate's personality and empathy with pupils;
	the range of perceived strengths;
	experiences outside education;
	planning and organisational skills;
	ability to complement the existing team of staff;
	adequate Health and Safety training in the use of machinery, equipment and processes that are commonly found in school workshops.

On this last point, this Association, in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive, has produced a nationally recognised syllabus for such training and certificates are issued on completion of the course. Initial teacher training institutions are increasingly using this syllabus, or extending it, as part of their courses. Some institutions use their own, but these vary in detail.

It is important that those appointing staff to teach in workshops are sure of a candidate's competence and confidence in using machines safely.

If at interview it is unclear whether an applicant for a post has been adequately trained subsequent provision will need to be made to rectify this as part of the Staff Development Programme for the individual.

For details of the NAAIDT safety training survey and more information on Health and Safety training matters, please refer to the following list and relevant NAAIDT publications overleaf.

Related NAAIDT Publications

NAAIDT publications relevant to Health and Safety in secondary schools:
	Managing Health and Safety in School Workshops	ISBN 0906 457 08 04
	Managing Health and Safety in Food and Textiles in Schools	ISBN 0906 457 01 06
	Safety Training Courses for Teachers and Technicians	ISBN 0906 457 06 08
	Certificates for above courses	Per pad

The above are available from:
NAAIDT Publications, c/o DATA, 16 Wellesbourne Road, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire CV35 9JB.

(Please send cheques, payable to NAAIDT, with order.)

Participating Institutions

In England and Wales, the institutions of initial teacher training listed below have indicated to NAAIDT that they provide a range of the Association's Health and Safety training courses on machinery, equipment and processes commonly found in school workshops. Other institutions may include safety training.

Initial Training Institution		Modules/Assessment/Certificates
	Brunel University	W M H A C
	The University College of Ripon and York St John	W M H A C
	College of St Mark and St John	W M H A C
	Edge Hill College of Higher Education	W m h A C
	Exeter University	W M
	Goldsmiths' College, University of London	W m h A C
	Gwent College of Higher Education	W M H
	John Moores University	W M H
	King Alfred's College, Winchester	W M H C
	Loughborough University of Technology	W M H A C
	Manchester Metropolitan University	W M H A C
	Middlesex University	W M H A C(OS)
	Nottingham Trent University	W M H A C
	Sheffield Hallam University	W M H A C(OS)
	Sunderland University	W M H (OS)
	University of Brighton	W M C
	University of Greenwich	W M H
	University of Wales - Swansea	W M h A C
	University of West of England	W M H A C
	University of Wolverhampton	W M H A C
Key:	W = wood machinery; M = metal machinery; H = heat treatment; A = indicates that the institution conducts formal assessment; C = a certificate is issued; (OS) = own syllabus; w,m,h = part syllabus.

Please send any comments on this Guideline to: Guideline@naaidt.org.uk
For a list of other NAAIDT publications see the Publications section or send s.a.e. to:
DATA, 16 Wellesbourne Road, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire CV35 9JB.
For more information on the work of the Association contact: Hon.Sec@naaidt.org.uk