This interactive masterclass will support participants to understand how the current legal framework is reshaping probation management.
By equipping managers with the confidence, structure and practical tools to manage probationary periods effectively; setting clear expectations from day one, addressing concerns early, supporting success, and managing extensions or unsuccessful outcomes fairly and lawfully.
By the end of this masterclass, participants will feel they are confident and able to take the appropriate practical steps, with the evolving employment landscape.
Managing probation effectively has never been more important. With the Employment Rights Act 2025 significantly reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from two years to just six months, schools and education organisations must ensure probationary processes are robust, fair and well evidenced from day one. This masterclass provides senior leaders and managers with a clear understanding of how the evolving legal framework reshapes probation decision making, documentation and risk management. Participants will explore what “fairness” now looks like in practice, how employment legislation impacts local probation policies and the increased expectations on employers to provide a genuine opportunity for new starters to succeed.
The session moves beyond theory to focus on practical, education specific application. Through real world scenarios and guided discussion, participants will learn how to set clear expectations aligned to role requirements, conduct structured probation reviews, and address performance, capability or conduct concerns at an early stage. The masterclass also covers when and how to extend probation appropriately, the evidence required to support decisions, and how to manage unsuccessful probation outcomes confidently and lawfully. Designed to support compliance while promoting positive employee engagement, this masterclass equips leaders with practical tools to manage probation consistently, reduce risk, and strengthen successful workforce integration in line with employment legislation and best practice.
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this masterclass, participants will be able to:
Understand the impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on probation decision making, fairness and documentation.
Set clear, measurable expectations at the outset of employment and link them to probation criteria.
Structure effective probation reviews that encourage performance, accountability and early intervention.
Identify and manage performance, capability or conduct concerns early, using supportive and proportionate approaches.
Know when and how to extend probation appropriately, including evidence requirements and communication.
Manage unsuccessful probation outcomes confidently and fairly, reducing legal and employee relations risk.
Apply learning to real-world scenarios and plan improvements to their own probation practices.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Headteachers, Assistant Heads, Deputy Heads, School Business Managers, members of the Senior Leadership Team, team leaders and HR staff.
FACILITATOR
Veronica Fox is a highly regarded HR consultant at Eclipse HR with extensive experience supporting organisations within the education sector, and over 30 years in the HR profession. She specialises in providing practical, commercially focused HR advice and people management solutions to schools, academies, multi academy trusts and education focused organisations, alongside a broader portfolio of clients across the public and private sectors. Veronica works closely with senior leadership teams offering strategic and operational HR support that reflects the unique regulatory, cultural and safeguarding requirements of education environments. With a strong emphasis on compliance, risk management and positive employee engagement.
Veronica is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She is also currently a Trust Member at a MAT.
