Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that all higher education institutions are able to fill their teacher training course places.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are responsible for their own recruitment to initial teacher training (ITT) courses, both through offering their own ITT places and supporting the wider school-led system.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has introduced a new system for postgraduate ITT recruitment for the 2016/17 academic year. Full information has been published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-itt-recruitment-controls

The Government is committed to attracting more top graduates into teaching, and has already announced increased bursaries and other financial incentives in those core academic subjects that best help children achieve their potential; including tax free bursaries of up to £30,000.

The Department for Education has launched a programme of marketing activities highlighting the benefits of a career in teaching to attract people into the profession. This includes TV advertising, the “Get into Teaching” website, digital advertising and activity on social media. Officials attend more than 40 graduate recruitment and Train to Teach events each year in order to promote teaching to those interested in applying.