I have been contacted by constituents about Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
As the Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes South, I have included below my response:
I am aware of the incredible work that our teachers do, so I welcome that Ministers share my commitment to maintaining high-quality teacher training.
I am pleased that the Government is carrying out a review of the initial teacher training market, as part of the teacher recruitment and retention strategy. The aim of the review is to ensure that all trainees receive high-quality training; the ITT market maintains the capacity to deliver enough trainees and is accessible to candidates; and that the ITT system benefits all schools.
As part of the review, which is being led by Ian Bauckham (CEO of Tenax Schools Trust), alongside several other experts from the sector, a report has been published making recommendations to the Government on how the teaching training sector can be improved. I am aware that the report has made fourteen recommendations to the Government including implementing measures such as including ITT in the education inspection framework; providing trainees with mentors to provide them support across their placement schools; and the delivery of an intensive placement scheme during trainees’ courses so they can also receive highly targeted feedback as part of their course.
I understand that the Department for Education is now seeking views on the recommendations of the report through a public consultation, which closed on 22nd August. Ministers have assured me that a response will be published later in the year.
More broadly, I am delighted that the new Institute of Teaching will be launched in England in September 2022, which will be funded as part of the £22 million that was announced at the 2020 Spending Review for teacher quality. The Institute will provide teachers and school leaders with prestigious training and development throughout their career. It is also welcome that a reformed suite of National Professional Qualifications was launched in September 2021, offering professional development for teachers and school leaders at all levels.
I can assure you that the Government is committed to driving up education standards so that children and young people across the country can achieve their potential. I welcome the views of Ministers that central to this, is making sure we have great teachers in every classroom and the ITT review will ensure this is the case.
