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Appraisal: stages of the cycle

Understand the performance management cycle for teachers. Plus, get advice on setting and monitoring objectives, and reviewing teacher performance.

Last reviewed on 28 November 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 141
Contents
  1. Be clear on your requirements
  2. Line managers usually carry out appraisals
  3. Follow the 6 stages of the appraisal cycle
  4. Get teachers involved in setting their objectives
  5. Monitor and support teachers throughout the cycle
  6. Formally assess teacher performance at the end of the appraisal cycle

Be clear on your requirements

Maintained schools

You must:

  • Have an appraisal policy in place for teachers – adapt our model in line with your school's context
  • Assess teachers against the Teachers' Standards – with the exception of teachers who are qualified through qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS) status
  • Give teachers a written report of their appraisal as soon as possible after the end of each appraisal period – our model policy, linked above, includes a report template you can use

This is laid out in the Education (School Teachers’ Appraisal) (England) Regulations 2012, which applies to all maintained schools. 

Note: the statutory education regulations don't apply to teachers undergoing induction or capability procedures.

Academies 

Unlike maintained schools, you're not required to follow the teacher appraisal regulations linked above, but it's good practice to do so. 

The rest of this article is based on these regulations and on the DfE's non-statutory guidance on teacher appraisal and capability.

There are no statutory requirements