WsT
Hope these answers help - I have tried to write them as if we are in the briefing room before a sim session.....
If flaps fail to retract after TO, speed select, ask for ECAM actions.
You would definitely want to come back to land, correct?
Correct - but if your main engineering base was really close you could go there instead. There may be other factors such as LOVIS which would stop you returning to the departure airport.
Will configuring for landing mean flaps would NOT extend either, or it could be that they extend maybe, but just not retract?
If ECAM says FLAPS LOCKED (or SLATS LOCKED) then they will not move until the engineers fix them on the ground.
Second scenario,
Flaps fail while you're in approach and have no time to calculate distance etc etc. go around if you weren't ready for this and retract flaps normally?
Yes, go-around
in selected speed at a safe speed for the CONF but do not move the FLAPS lever ... because the Flaps are locked. At a safe height perform ECAM actions, and eventually check landing distance and do approach preparation referring to STATUS and QRH.
When doing an approach with flaps or slats locked, you will use conf 3, select Vfe next -5, and keep configuring.
Why exactly do we do this?
CONF 3 because 1. the QRH says so... 2. CONF FULL might give control problems with abnormal config. We use VFE next -5 so that we are always flying at a safe speed for the abnormal Flap/Slat config.
Once activating approach phase, the speed decelerates below Vfe anyway..
NO ! We are in selected speed.......
If BOTH slats and flaps locked after you select flaps 1, there is no need to select flaps 2, or anything at all now, correct? As it won't do anything..
There is a specific ECAM for "SLATS and FLAPS FAULT in CONF ZERO" which instructs you to use FLAPS 1 lever position for landing - this means that G/A mode is available if you select TOGA.
I do apologize for the silly questions
There is no such thing as a silly question when you are trying to learn - keep on asking!