'At-Risk' Teacher Education Students

For the most part, professional experience placements are relatively uncomplicated, however, at times, a Teacher Education Student (TES) may require further support in order to pass the placement. These Teacher Education Students then might be deemed 'At-Risk' of failing their placement.

What is 'At-Risk'?

Teacher Education Students may be deemed 'At-Risk’ of failing if they:

    • Are not meeting the level of assessment against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, required for their teacher education training;
    • Are not able to demonstrate one or more of the Fundamental Skills Assessment; or
    • Have not adapted well to the environment in which they are placed.

    In these cases, the Supervising Teacher must request that another educator in the school/centre provides a second opinion by observing and evaluating the Teacher Education Student's performance.

    If the  collective judgment deems the Teacher Education Student to be 'At-Risk’ of failing, the Supervising Teacher submits the Assistance Request Form to the OPL

    For a Teacher Education Student deemed 'At-Risk', the Supervising Teacher must follow the requirements of the Handbook which requires a second opinion before submitting an Assistance Request Form to the OPL.

Process for an 'At-Risk of Failing' Teacher Education Student

Once the OPL receives an Assistance Request Form an 'At-Risk' Package will be sent to the Supervising Teacher, and a member of the OPL Team will contact regarding the placement.

Below is the Assistance Request Form and the Professional Experience Handbook. At this time of concern, it is essential that the Supervising Teacher familiarises themselves with the Evaluation section (from page 19) of the Professional Experience Handbook.

These documents can also be found on the Supervising Teachers' Corner and the Assessing the Teacher Education Student page.

The 'At-Risk' Package

The 'At-Risk' Package will be emailed to the Supervising Teacher. Contact will be made with the Supervising Teacher and/or the Teacher Education Student by the OPL regarding the placement. To decide whether the placement should proceed with the implementation of the 'At-Risk' Action Plan or whether the placement should be terminated.

Due Process - A school/centre must ensure, the steps outlined in the Evaluation section (from Page 19) of the Professional Experience Handbook are used. If the Supervising Teacher deems a Teacher Education Student to be 'Unsatisfactory', please ensure due process has been followed as outlined in the 'At-Risk' package.

This package will contain the 'At-Risk' Action Plan and the Placement Requires Termination documents.

Placement Requires Termination

Although a placement process has followed the required paths of the Supervision Flowchart, at times, placements require termination.

This may occur when a Teacher Education Student:

  1. Is unable to achieve the goals negotiated in the "At-Risk" Action Plan, or has not made or demonstrated enough improvement in line with the plan;
  2. Been on a Further Action Plan as part of the "At-Risk" Action Plan and has not made or demonstrated enough improvement in line with the plan; or
  3. Seriously breached one or more of the Grounds for Termination components in the Professional Experience Policy.

A placement requiring termination should only occur after consultation with the Office for Professional Learning.