Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the completion of the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) market review, to confirm whether ITT providers will continue to be able to equip student teachers to (1) critique, (2) question, and (3) contextualise evidence and research relating to children's education and learning.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The Initial Teacher Training (ITT) market review is still in progress and we do not yet know what the review will recommend. The review’s focus is to ensure that all ITT trainees have access to high quality training and support across their training year. The government will consider the Chair’s recommendations once these are finalised and advise the ITT sector accordingly at that stage.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure (1) the financial sustainability of the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers, and (2) their ability to engage in long-term planning will not be jeopardised by the outcome of the ITT market review.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The review into initial teacher training (ITT) is focusing on how the ITT sector can provide consistently high-quality training, in line with the Core Content Framework, in a more efficient and effective market.
An expert advisory group is working with the department with the aim of making well informed, evidenced-based recommendations on how to make sure that all trainees receive high-quality evidence-based training, the ITT market maintains the capacity to deliver enough trainees and is accessible to candidates and that the ITT system benefits all schools.
We committed to engaging with the sector in late spring 2021 and we are currently considering a range of engagement opportunities. We will make these opportunities available via the usual means and we expect to report on the review in summer 2021. The government will then consider the Chair’s recommendations and advise the sector accordingly at that stage.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what process will be followed in (1) granting the Institute for Teaching degree awarding powers, and (2) enabling the Institute for Teaching to validate academic awards delivered by other bodies.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The Institute of Teaching will register as a higher education provider with the Office for Students (OfS) at the earliest opportunity, so it can apply for degree awarding powers. The Institute will be required to follow the process for acquiring degree awarding powers, which is managed by the OfS.
Once probationary degree awarding powers have been acquired, the Institute will be able to independently award its own Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCEs). In due course, the Institute will also be able to validate the PGCEs of other providers, once it has successfully gained full degree awarding powers.
More information will be provided by the department within the tender documentation for this procurement once it is launched.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to have the Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework (1) fully implemented, and (2) tested; and whether that Framework will be independently assessed.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF) published in November 2019 sets out a mandatory training entitlement, embedded in the best, independently verified evidence about quality teaching, which all ITT must deliver. This includes content on curriculum planning and sequencing, behaviour management and setting high expectations for all pupils. The CCF can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-itt-core-content-framework.
The department expects the CCF to be fully implemented and we will continue to monitor and assess the effect of the CCF in ensuring high quality ITT, including through the reporting of independent inspections of ITT partnerships conducted by Ofsted. ITT inspections will commence under the revised handbook (published by Ofsted in June 2020) when regular inspections resume. As part of inspections, Ofsted will check each partnership's adherence to the ITT criteria, which requires the full implementation of the CCF for primary and secondary phases. The ITT criteria can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria. The Ofsted framework and handbook for the inspection of ITT partnerships can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-education-ite-inspection-framework-and-handbook.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to maintain the stability of the teacher supply in the Initial Teacher Training system, and (2) to uphold the quality of teacher education.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department has been working hard to increase the number of teachers entering the profession. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, teachers have been celebrated for their role in continuing to support children. Measures have been taken to maintain the stability of teacher supply throughout the COVID-19 outbreak by working closely with the sector to support teacher training providers to place trainee teachers in schools as part of their training. The department has relaxed some of the criteria relating to the provision of initial teacher training (ITT) in the 2020/21 academic year, confirmed that trainee teachers are critical workers, and strongly encouraged schools to continue hosting trainees on placement during periods of national or local COVID-19 restrictions.
The department has seen a surge in the number of new trainee teachers this year – over 7,000 more than in 2019 – which shows that teaching continues to be an attractive career option.
The department is aware that certain subjects continue to be a challenge, so has put in place a range of measures, which include bursaries worth up to £24,000 and scholarships worth up to £26,000, to attract talented trainees to some subjects like chemistry, computing, mathematics, and physics.
The department offers subject knowledge enhancement courses to applicants who have the potential to become outstanding teachers but who need to increase their subject knowledge before the Teachers' Standards can be met. The department also continues to run a range of marketing events to attract new trainees; these have all been adapted to run online in response to the outbreak and continue to see high attendance figures.
The department is committed to ensuring trainees and early career teachers receive the best training possible. From September 2020, all ITT will incorporate the ITT Core Content Framework (CCF) into well sequenced curricula. The CCF sets out a minimum entitlement of experiences and opportunities that trainees need, so they can enter the profession in the best position possible to teach and support children. This will be followed by a new two year induction from September 2021, supported by the Early Career Framework.
On 2 January 2021, the department announced that we are resuming a review of the ITT market, with a focus on how the ITT sector can provide consistently high quality training, in line with the CCF, in a more efficient and effective market.
This review will aim to make well informed, evidence based recommendations on how to ensure all trainees are receiving consistent, high quality training, in a way that will maintain capacity to deliver enough trainees, be accessible to candidates, and benefit all schools.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to maintain the link between (1) teachers' professional preparation, (2) the autonomy of universities as independent institutions, and (3) the academic freedom of universities' academic staff.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department has committed to strengthening academic freedom and ensuring our universities are places where free speech can thrive.
Academic freedom is a fundamental principle in the English higher education sector, as recognised in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and other legislation, allowing academic staff to question and test received wisdom and put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or privileges. Universities are independent and autonomous institutions, but they are also required by law to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom.
In November 2019, we published the new initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF). The CCF sets a mandatory training entitlement that all ITT must deliver, embedded in the best available and independently verified evidence about effective teaching. This includes content on curriculum planning and sequencing, behaviour management and setting high expectations for all pupils. From September 2020, all ITT courses must encompass the full entitlement described in the CCF into their ITT curricula for all subjects and phases.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date they plan to publish the recommendations of the Initial Teacher Training Market Review; and what plans they have to implement a centrally prescribed system for (1) content, and (2) modes of delivery.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department is aware that teaching quality is the most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The government is committed to giving every child high quality teaching to help them to achieve their full potential.
In November 2019, the department published the initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF), which sets out a mandatory core minimum entitlement for all trainees of what they should expect from their training courses. The CCF sets a mandatory training entitlement that all ITT must deliver, embedded in the best, independently verified, evidence regarding quality teaching and what works. This includes content on curriculum planning and sequencing, behaviour management and setting high expectations for all pupils. This framework, along with the Early Career Framework, makes up a minimum entitlement of a three year package of development for trainees and newly qualified teachers, and will play a crucial role improving the quality of ITT.
On 2 January 2021, the department announced that we would be resuming our review of the ITT market. The review is focused on ensuring consistently high quality ITT based on the CCF, so that all trainees gain the expertise they need to become effective teachers. Any reforms must maintain sufficient capacity to deliver enough qualified teachers, whilst being accessible to candidates and of benefit to all schools.
The Chair and a small expert group, with the support of the department, are conducting early work to better understand these issues and the direction of the work. The department are confident that the expert group covers a range of expertise and perspectives which will be essential in ensuring the review maintains market capacity and reflects an understanding of high quality ITT. Additionally, they are holding discussions with sector representatives including the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers, with broader engagement planned from late spring. The department expects the review to conclude in the summer. The government will consider the Chair’s recommendations and advise the sector accordingly at that stage.
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 adequate representation of higher education institutions providing initial teacher training in the Department for Education's Initial Teacher Training Market Review.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department is aware that teaching quality is the most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The government is committed to giving every child high quality teaching to help them to achieve their full potential.
In November 2019, the department published the initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF), which sets out a mandatory core minimum entitlement for all trainees of what they should expect from their training courses. The CCF sets a mandatory training entitlement that all ITT must deliver, embedded in the best, independently verified, evidence regarding quality teaching and what works. This includes content on curriculum planning and sequencing, behaviour management and setting high expectations for all pupils. This framework, along with the Early Career Framework, makes up a minimum entitlement of a three year package of development for trainees and newly qualified teachers, and will play a crucial role improving the quality of ITT.
On 2 January 2021, the department announced that we would be resuming our review of the ITT market. The review is focused on ensuring consistently high quality ITT based on the CCF, so that all trainees gain the expertise they need to become effective teachers. Any reforms must maintain sufficient capacity to deliver enough qualified teachers, whilst being accessible to candidates and of benefit to all schools.
The Chair and a small expert group, with the support of the department, are conducting early work to better understand these issues and the direction of the work. The department are confident that the expert group covers a range of expertise and perspectives which will be essential in ensuring the review maintains market capacity and reflects an understanding of high quality ITT. Additionally, they are holding discussions with sector representatives including the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers, with broader engagement planned from late spring. The department expects the review to conclude in the summer. The government will consider the Chair’s recommendations and advise the sector accordingly at that stage.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are undertaking a review of initial teacher training; and if so, (1) how that review is being conducted, (2) what progress they have made in that review, and (3) when they estimate that they will publish that review and its conclusions.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
As part of the government’s Teacher Recruitment and Retention strategy, we committed to reviewing the initial teacher training (ITT) market to identify improvements that reduce costs for providers and exploring how we can encourage high quality providers – including high-performing MATs – to extend their reach, deliver at scale and do more to support the wider system. We started work on this earlier this year with a series of workshops with ITT sector representatives to understand the current market better. This work was paused so that government, and the ITT sector, could focus on the challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
We are now resuming the ITT market review, building on the opportunities afforded by our Teacher Development reforms, including the ITT Core Content Framework. We are in the process of scoping the next phase of the review which we expect to conclude next summer.
Asked by: Baroness Donaghy (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which initial teacher training providers were allocated places for three years from 2017–18; and how many places were allocated to each provider (1) apportioned by primary and secondary phases, and (2) broken down by individual secondary subject.
Answered by Lord Nash
We will be publishing the full list of providers eligible for three-year allocations, and the allocations by subject and route in due course. This information will comprise data on both primary and secondary phase, inclusive of all provider-led and school direct trainee places.