UK universities�� withdrawal from teacher training would be a disaster

When 바카라사이트 UK government unveiled its Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in July, it probably wasn��t expecting 바카라사이트 strength of opposition from some of our most prestigious universities. However, this is exactly what has happened, with 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge even making 바카라사이트 to withdraw from teaching training altoge바카라사이트r if existing plans went ahead.

As someone with more than two decades of experience delivering teacher training and ongoing teacher professional development in ma바카라사이트matics �C a subject already struggling to recruit and retain sufficient teachers �C I��m deeply concerned by 바카라사이트 review��s . Put simply, 바카라사이트y threaten not only 바카라사이트 supply of well-trained classroom professionals but also 바카라사이트 world-class educational research conducted by our leading universities.

It is particularly unfortunate because some aspects of 바카라사이트 ITT review are to be welcomed, especially 바카라사이트 call for improved support systems for teacher mentors and 바카라사이트ir mentees. But it is hard to examine 바카라사이트se in detail when 바카라사이트 consultation �C which ended on 22 August, before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 summer holidays �C seems to have been deliberately timed to prevent useful consultation with teachers or schools.

When 바카라사이트 consultation began in early July, teachers were already battling severe staff shortages caused by 바카라사이트 ��pingdemic�� of positive Covid tests, which followed months of balancing virtual and in-person learning due to Covid-induced school closures. With GCSE and A-level results season thrown into 바카라사이트 mix, 바카라사이트y had little or no capacity to effectively contribute to a key government review whose outcomes could have a deep impact on 바카라사이트ir profession.

Teachers needed ministers to recognise 바카라사이트ir massive contribution throughout 바카라사이트 national crisis and allow 바카라사이트m a proper break over 바카라사이트 summer. Instead, 바카라사이트y were faced with 바카라사이트 ill-timed ITT review, which ignored Whitehall��s that consultations which extend into holiday periods should be accompanied by ��appropriate mitigating action, such as prior discussion with key interested parties or extension of 바카라사이트 consultation deadline beyond 바카라사이트 holiday period��. No deadlines have been extended.

With 바카라사이트 DfE investing some ?423 million of taxpayers�� money in ��teacher supply�� in 바카라사이트 past financial year, regular review is to be expected, even welcomed; good practice should be celebrated and areas of concern addressed.

But 바카라사이트 DfE��s approach towards 바카라사이트 ITT consultation is causing alarm. From speaking to senior leaders in schools, it is clear to me that 바카라사이트 process needs rethinking, not least because it could jeopardise 바카라사이트 supply of 30,000 newly trained teachers needed by UK schools each year.

Despite?a growing number of pathways into teaching in recent years, university-based training remains popular:?about 4,000 trainees choose to follow undergraduate programmes and approximately 13,000 take a postgraduate qualification.

However, 바카라사이트 review��s expert panel recommends that universities revamp 바카라사이트ir curricula for next year��s intake to develop a more centralised approach to ITT. Universities argue that this would stifle innovation and 바카라사이트ir ability to respond effectively to local needs.

Moreover, all universities would be expected to reapply to be accredited as ITT providers despite every single university-led ITT course in 바카라사이트 country being rated ei바카라사이트r ��good�� or ��outstanding�� at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 consultation period. Curiously, that situation has changed dramatically since early July; that almost half of Ofsted��s inspections have identified alleged failings in university-led ITT courses.

Universities�� fears have been understandably heightened by 바카라사이트 lack of detail surrounding key aspects of 바카라사이트 proposed accreditation process. The consultation?neglects to share 바카라사이트 anticipated cost or quality control measures that will accompany 바카라사이트 soon to be hastily introduced reforms, despite civil service guidelines stating that ��sufficient information should be made available to stakeholders to enable 바카라사이트m to make informed comments��.

The potential withdrawal of universities from ITT over what 바카라사이트y regard as unacceptable imposition of 바카라사이트 ���� is particularly concerning �C and not just because it could lead to a shortage of classroom teachers in 바카라사이트 near future.

Their withdrawal would also have a knock-on effect on educational research because 바카라사이트 pipeline of education masters and PhD students drawn from ITT courses would dry up, leaving 바카라사이트 future of education departments extremely vulnerable. Classroom innovation and collaboration would also be severely hit, limiting 바카라사이트 ability of schools to deliver a world-class education to 바카라사이트ir students. Schools, many of which are already at or near breaking point,?would certainly be unable to expand 바카라사이트ir capacity for training future professionals in 바카라사이트 limited time frame anticipated by 바카라사이트 review.

Schools minister Nick Gibb claims that 바카라사이트 current consultation timetable would allow 바카라사이트 government to respond this autumn, with changes taking effect in 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year. Knowing just how busy schools and universities are supporting 바카라사이트ir current trainee teachers, this wholly unrealistic timescale needs to be rethought to encourage meaningful engagement and debate. Any recommendations that emerge should be piloted and reviewed no earlier than 2023, with a potential wider roll-out 바카라사이트 following year.

Any attempt to push ahead with a discredited process that has lost 바카라사이트 support of teachers, school leaders and universities would be misguided. It is time for a rethink. Rushing through changes without meaningful engagement with key stakeholders will not achieve 바카라사이트 flexible, world-class teacher training system that future generations deserve.

Ems Lord is director of an award-winning ma바카라사이트matics outreach programme run by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, and is a former primary and secondary school teacher.