Changes to probation arrangements for Kent Scheme employees

Schools operating Kent Scheme Terms and Conditions of Employment will need to implement these changes. This communication is also being shared for information with schools and academy trusts that determine their own terms and conditions, as some may choose to make similar changes to their local probation arrangements.

New employees starting on or after Thursday 1 October 2026

For employees whose employment begins on or after Thursday 1 October 2026:

• the standard probation period will reduce from six months to three months
• in exceptional circumstances, probation may be extended by up to one month
• where additional time is required to implement or assess workplace adjustments, probation may be extended by up to two months.

The maximum probation period under the revised arrangements will therefore be five months.

Employees already serving probation

Transitional arrangements will apply for employees whose probation commenced before Thursday 1 October 2026.

These employees will remain subject to the probation arrangements that applied when they were appointed. This means their six-month probation period will continue unchanged. No probation extension will be available under these arrangements, as the original six-month period already exceeds the duration available under the revised framework.

Updated documentation

Schools should ensure that all new appointments made on or after Thursday 1 October 2026 use the revised contractual documentation.