Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many primary phase students were recruited in 2015–16 to initial teacher training courses delivered through (1) core university provision, (2) school-centred initial teacher training provision, (3) School Direct salaried, and (4) School Direct fee-paying provision, compared to the total number of training places allocated to each of those routes.
Answered by Lord Nash
For the academic year 2015 to 2016 we recruited 13,034 initial trainee teachers to primary programmes (compared to 12,872 in 2014 to 2015) and 15,114 to secondary programmes (compared to 12,971 in 2014 to 2015). These figures are for postgraduate only and include Teach First and forecasted trainees. This represents 116% and 82% against the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) target respectively. The target is higher this year compared to academic year 2014 to 2015.
We allocated a total of 13,962 postgraduate places in primary and 22,800 postgraduate secondary programmes, against TSM targets of 11,245 and 18,541 respectively.
We allocate more ITT places than we require trainee teachers, and the extent to which we over-allocate differs by route. When assessing recruitment overall we measure the number of trainee teachers recruited against the number required, rather than against the proportion of allocated places that are filled.
The table below shows the total postgraduate trainees by secondary subject and primary phase. The total includes 1,584 Teach First and 379 forecast trainees. The table also includes trainees and allocations by route.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they have taken to ensure that the increase in school-centred initial teacher training and School Direct initial teacher training does not undermine existing programmes delivered by mainstream school-university partnerships.
Answered by Lord Nash
The government is committed to the ongoing expansion of school-led initial teacher training (ITT). The move towards school-led ITT has created new opportunities for universities to grow their business: engaging directly with schools to become their chosen partner; and working with school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) to offer academic awards. In addition, the university sector as a whole has the opportunity to recruit trainees up to the same overall level as they have for the 2015/16 academic year. It is, therefore, not expected that this change of approach will have a substantial impact on the higher education sector.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure the continued viability of teacher training delivered by school-university partnership other than through School Direct.
Answered by Lord Nash
The government is committed to the ongoing expansion of school-led initial teacher training (ITT). The move towards school-led ITT has created new opportunities for universities to grow their business: engaging directly with schools to become their chosen partner; and working with school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) to offer academic awards. In addition, the university sector as a whole has the opportunity to recruit trainees up to the same overall level as they have for the 2015/16 academic year. It is, therefore, not expected that this change of approach will have a substantial impact on the higher education sector.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the different controls placed on recruitment to university initial teacher training and recruitment to School Direct and school-centred initial teacher-training programmes in 2016–17 on the choice available to prospective trainee teachers.
Answered by Lord Nash
The government is committed to the ongoing expansion of school-led initial teacher training (ITT). The move towards school-led ITT has created new opportunities for universities to grow their business: engaging directly with schools to become their chosen partner; and working with school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) to offer academic awards. In addition, the university sector as a whole has the opportunity to recruit trainees up to the same overall level as they have for the 2015/16 academic year. It is, therefore, not expected that this change of approach will have a substantial impact on the higher education sector.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why a cap has been imposed on recruitment to initial teacher-training programmes by universities but not on school-centred initial teacher training and School Direct recruitment.
Answered by Lord Nash
The government is committed to the ongoing expansion of school-led initial teacher training (ITT). The move towards school-led ITT has created new opportunities for universities to grow their business: engaging directly with schools to become their chosen partner; and working with school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) to offer academic awards. In addition, the university sector as a whole has the opportunity to recruit trainees up to the same overall level as they have for the 2015/16 academic year. It is, therefore, not expected that this change of approach will have a substantial impact on the higher education sector.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have carried out of the impact of the increase in School Direct and school-centred initial teacher training on the availability of placements for students on mainstream school-university programmes.
Answered by Lord Nash
The National College of Teaching and Leadership does not collect information on placements. These are negotiated between providers and schools as part of their partnership arrangements.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether initial teacher-training programmes delivered using core places allocated to universities are as schools-led as those delivered through School Direct.
Answered by Lord Nash
A school-led training course gives trainees the chance to train on the job in at least two schools.School-led initial teacher training is made up of School Direct (tuition fee), School Direct (salaried) and School-centered ITT provider (SCITT) routes. One of the key principles of the School Direct training route is that it gives schools the decision-making power they need to work with their preferred partners in the design and delivery of ITT, and to select and recruit the best possible candidates. A number of different models have been developed by schools working with appropriate ITT providers based on local needs.
Many schools are choosing to work with universities in the delivery of School Direct training. The same ITT criteria, which specify the minimum amount of time that trainees must spend in schools, apply to all ITT routes, whether school or university-led.
The increasing availability of school-led routes alongside university-led courses allow applicants to choose the right course depending on personal circumstances, qualifications, and the subject and age group they want to teach.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when advice will be issued to schools and initial teacher training (ITT) providers about (1) new child safety requirements relating to childcare settings, and (2) the extent to which ITT providers are allowed to share information relating to Disclosure and Barring Service checks with partner schools.
Answered by Lord Nash
The ‘Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006’ statutory guidance was issued in February 2015. All initial teacher training (ITT) providers should have regard to this guidance when placing students in relevant childcare settings.
The Department for Education is currently reviewing the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. This will include an update regarding the information that providers can share with schools in relation to non-salaried trainees.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce the criteria and timetable for allocating initial teacher training places for September 2016.
Answered by Lord Nash
We will publish the methodology for our allocation of initial teacher training places for the 2016/17 academic year in due course. This will include information on the criteria that will apply and timing of the process. We will inform interested schools and universities directly as soon as this information is available.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that newly qualified teachers have access to structured early professional development that builds on and complements their initial training.
Answered by Lord Nash
The government is continuing to improve the capacity of schools to take the lead in training and developing teachers, including newly qualified teachers. This involves supporting schools to lead on the creation of high-quality training opportunities for teachers through the national network of teaching schools.
The Department for Education also recently consulted on options to support teachers’ professional development. The consultation, entitled ‘A World-Class Teaching Profession’, ran from 9 December 2014 to 3 February 2015 and set out proposals designed to support teachers in improving the quality of professional development. The proposals included a fund for professional development and an offer of government support to those working on the establishment of a new, independent professional body – a College of Teaching. An announcement will be made in due course.