It has come to our attention that there is at least one expression of interest for AO assessment currently circulating which appears to indicate that the two-year teaching requirement for AO is ‘just guidance’ and can be flexible. We would caution members to be extremely wary of any pressure to provide flexible ‘routes’ to an AO assessment and would remind you that the intention behind the AO route was to accredit candidates with significant levels of experience – not to provide a ‘back door’ route to QTS. NASBTT remains concerned about the apparent growth of organisations who appear to be offering unaccredited and unregulated ‘training programmes’ which lead to an AO assessment for QTS. Please be reassured that we are working closely with colleagues at UCET and the DfE to highlight these concerns and guard against this trend.