Appeals
This policy explains the process that you should follow when appealing against a decision made by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), relating to membership and its professional status programmes, including Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS) ,Advanced Teacher Status (ATS) and other Specialist Statuses.
1. Policy statement
This policy aims to provide a fair, transparent and timely appeals procedure which is clear and easy to use for anyone wishing to object to a decision made in relation to membership eligibility, professional status programmes (i.e. QTLS/ATS) or specialist status programmes (e.g. Specialist Status in ESD).
2. Definition
2.1 An appeal under this policy is a request for a review of a decision made by ETF relating to membership or its professional/specialist status programmes. You may appeal a decision or outcome based on evidence or procedure only.
3. Scope
This policy covers appeals against decisions made by ETF relating to membership and/or its professional/specialist status programmes.
An appeal could relate to, but is not exclusive to:
1. admission into membership/withdrawal of membership related to eligibility criteria and suitability for membership
2. withdrawing an applicant’s status application for failing to satisfy the programme’s eligibility criteria
3. withdrawing a participant’s portfolio for failing to satisfy the programme’s eligibility criteria
4. holding a status participant accountable for not adhering to key timeline deadlines during the status developmental programme
5. requiring the participant to restart their developmental programme for failing to submit their portfolio by the submission deadline
6. not awarding or conferring the participant with the relevant status.
3.2. The policy does not cover:
1. Complaints that may relate to the standards of service provided by ETF. Please refer to our Complaints Policy.
2. Allegations about a member who you believe may be in breach of the Code of Ethics and Conduct. Such cases should be reported to ETF, following the Investigation and Disciplinary Policy.
3. Action taken in relation to suspending or removing membership status due to imposition of Prohibition Orders or investigations by the Teaching Regulation Authority, Ofsted or other third-party agency – please refer to Membership Terms & Conditions.
4. Appeals against decisions made by the Investigation and Disciplinary Panel. The process for this is detailed in the Investigation and Disciplinary Policy.
4. Procedure
The Appeals process is split into two stages:
Stage 1: informal resolution – enables you to informally address your situation appeal and receive further feedback to better understand the decision made.
Stage 2: appeal – if you are dissatisfied with the response provided at stage 1 you may progress to stage 2. An appeal form will need to be completed clearly stating the grounds for the appeal. Our Appeals and Objections office will investigate, referring matters to the Head of the appropriate team where appropriate.
Please be aware that, whilst we will try to resolve matters following the stages and timelines outlined below, we reserve the right to vary this process as required by specific circumstances. If this is necessary, we will notify you in writing of any changes.
5. Stage 1 informal resolution
If you disagree with the decision made by ETF relating to membership and/or its status programmes please email membership@etfoundation.co.uk with details of your appeal, as soon as possible but no later than 10 working days after receiving the original decision. Please explain why you disagree with the decision, providing relevant, supporting information.
We will respond via email within five working days of receiving your appeal.
We will do everything we can to resolve the appeal informally and may reference relevant terms and conditions and policies and procedures (as applicable).
We will confirm if either:
(i) the original decision is revised or
(ii) the original decision is upheld.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome provided at stage 1, you have the right to progress your appeal to stage 2.
6. Stage 2 Appeal
If you are dissatisfied with the response provided at stage 1, and you believe that you have grounds for a stage 2 appeal (see 6.2 below), please complete our appeals form.
Appeals may be made on one or more of the following grounds only:
• the decision made by ETF was one which no reasonable decision-maker could have made and/or
• you believe ETF made an administrative and/or procedural error.
You will receive an acknowledgement within 5 working days. ETF will then investigate the appeal and provide you with a written response within 15 working days of receiving the appeal form.
ETF will either uphold or overturn the original decision, referring to the Head of the relevant team(s) as necessary.
ETF’s decision at this stage is final and there will be no further right of appeal beyond this stage.
A complaint may not be made about an appeal being upheld/or not being overturned, unless there are clear grounds that our policies or processes have not been followed. In such instances, this can be addressed through ETF’s Complaints Policy directly at Stage 2 of the Complaints process. However, if the complaint is about a matter separate to the original subject of the appeal, then it will be investigated at Stage 1 of the Complaints process.
7. Investigations and Disciplinary Policy & Procedures
If any member who submits an appeal relating to another matter is simultaneously subject to an investigation under the Investigation and Disciplinary policy due to a suspected breach of the Code of Ethics and Conduct, their appeal will not be considered until the outcome of the investigation is known.
If the member is found to have breached the Code of Ethics and Conduct and the sanction is removal from, or suspension of membership, no further action will be taken on any other matters. If a lesser sanction is applied, then the appeal(s) into other matters may be restarted.
Where a member is subject to the Investigation and Disciplinary policy and ETF considers that the information received may give rise to a concern about a member's continued suitability to undertake QTLS, ATS or any other status, it may consider that information as part of the appeal process, should the member be in the process of undertaking professional formation or other status.
Should a member be found to have breached the Code of Ethics & Conduct following an investigation, the member can appeal that finding following the procedures set out in the Investigations and Disciplinary Policy.
8. Quality Assurance
The Head of Quality, Standards and Statuses, or designated representative, will independently quality assure this policy to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and responses are in line with the appropriate terms and conditions and eligibility criteria as applicable.
Updated September 2025