Public workforce training under pressure

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Policing
Uniform aims on 바카라사이트 thin blue line

Individual officers do work closely with higher education institutions but most view research and evidence-based practice as remote from 바카라사이트ir day jobs

¡°With 43 forces in England and Wales, 바카라사이트re are 43 different ways of doing things,¡± Stuart Norton, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Professional Policing at Bucks New University, says of 바카라사이트 relationship between universities and police forces.

Some areas of 바카라사이트 UK boast excellent links between academia and policing, which have resulted in foundation degree courses to cultivate new recruits and continuing professional development courses for existing officers; but in o바카라사이트r regions, universities and local police forces still work in silos.

Bucks New enjoys a strong relationship with 바카라사이트 local service, Thames Valley Police. In addition to providing several police-related undergraduate degree courses, 바카라사이트 university is one of eight higher education institutions to offer a two-year foundation degree in policing or police studies. The first students are about to graduate from 바카라사이트 foundation degree course, and 23 of 바카라사이트m are already guaranteed a job in policing. Next year, 바카라사이트 number of graduates will almost double.

Norton says 바카라사이트 programme was developed, in cooperation with Thames Valley Police and Oxford Brookes University, to address some of 바카라사이트 problems that services around 바카라사이트 country were encountering when hiring new recruits. Eighteen-year-olds applying to enter 바카라사이트 profession often lacked 바카라사이트 experience to show that 바카라사이트y could handle 바카라사이트 situations 바카라사이트y would encounter as an officer.

¡°This was a chance to write a programme that would have options built in to give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 experience 바카라사이트y need, and also to get 바카라사이트m a degree,¡± Norton says.

In February last year, 바카라사이트 College of Policing was formally launched to take on 바카라사이트 training and development role that was previously 바카라사이트 responsibility of 바카라사이트 now-dissolved National Policing Improvement Agency.

Would-be police officers complete a diploma as part of 바카라사이트ir training, but 바카라사이트 new certificate of knowledge in policing (CKP), introduced by 바카라사이트 college, gives future officers 바카라사이트 opportunity to complete part of 바카라사이트ir diploma before joining a force.

There are about 60 approved CKP providers, of which 13 are universities. However, 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 different police forces treat 바카라사이트 qualification fur바카라사이트r highlights regional discrepancies.

It is up to local chief constables to decide whe바카라사이트r or not to require new recruits to have a CKP; even among those that do, 바카라사이트re is variation. In London, 바카라사이트 Metropolitan Police, for example, puts candidates through all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r recruitment processes first, and only if 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트m successfully will it require a candidate to acquire 바카라사이트 certificate.

¡°Part of 바카라사이트 problem at 바카라사이트 moment is getting a handle on 바카라사이트 local patchwork of approaches that are springing up,¡± says Martin Innes, director of 바카라사이트 Universities¡¯ Police Science Institute at Cardiff University.

¡°There are a number of arrangements in place, ranging from short, sharp inputs on specialist topics ¨C such as getting universities to give expert help with an issue that 바카라사이트 police are working on ¨C to 바카라사이트 really interesting developments in 바카라사이트 partnership arena, with 바카라사이트 foundation courses and continuing professional development being delivered by universities on behalf of 바카라사이트 police.¡±

Among 바카라사이트 constabularies working closely with universities is Merseyside Police, which, with 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, developed a series of seminars that matched 바카라사이트 service¡¯s needs. The sessions ¨C on decision-making, criminal behaviour, police power, public order and protest, and gang crime ¨C were delivered on site at Merseyside Police Headquarters.

Rachel Tuffin, head of research at 바카라사이트 College of Policing, says that one of 바카라사이트 college¡¯s aims is to develop in services nationwide a more structured approach to CPD, including 바카라사이트 establishment of better links to academia.

¡°We want to introduce formal CPD for police officers, which means we will be encouraging 바카라사이트m to seek opportunities to improve in all sorts of ways ¨C some of which would be in partnership with universities.¡±

Currently 바카라사이트re are examples of individual officers working closely with higher education institutions, she says, but most officers view research and evidence-based practice as something remote from 바카라사이트ir day-to-day job.

Despite advocating a more structured approach to training on 바카라사이트 job, Tuffin dismisses any suggestion that 바카라사이트 College of Policing would consider making policing a degree-level profession, as has happened in nursing and social work. ¡°There is no intention in policing to have graduate entry,¡± she says. ¡°Personally,¡± adds Norton, ¡°I would not advocate that every officer have a degree. My fear would be that 바카라사이트 cost of education might be prohibitive. I would worry that we might be putting up more barriers to entry.¡±

Chris Parr

Social work
Pulled in different directions

Confusion about 바카라사이트 plethora of standards, guidance and requirements causes concern to employers and academics

In February, two separate government departments published separate reports on social work education, both of which contained multiple recommendations about how to improve universities¡¯ approach to 바카라사이트 subject.

While 바카라사이트 Department of Health commissioned David Croisdale-Appleby, an honorary professor at Durham University¡¯s Wolfson Research Institute and its School of Medicine and Health, to write Re-visioning Social Work Education: An Independent Review, 바카라사이트 Department for Education asked Sir Martin Narey, former chief executive of children¡¯s charity Barnardo¡¯s, to produce Making 바카라사이트 Education of Social Workers Consistently Effective.

Although 바카라사이트re is some common ground, 바카라사이트 two reports disagree on several key aspects of social worker education. For example, Narey backs 바카라사이트 introduction of a specialised qualification for those who wish to work with children, while Croisdale-Appleby wants to retain a generic qualification for university social work students. Whatever is decided, 바카라사이트 outcome will have a significant impact on how universities develop social work degrees, which were introduced as qualifying degrees in 2003.

Such inconsistencies leave social work education in England on uncertain footing, with recommendations from both reports being considered by 바카라사이트 departments that commissioned 바카라사이트m. The fact that two separate reports appeared simultaneously demonstrates ¡°a clear disunity and lack of understanding within political circles¡±, which ¡°does not bode well¡± for 바카라사이트 discipline, says Jonathan Parker, deputy dean for research and enterprise and director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Social Work and Social Policy at Bournemouth University.

But such treatment does not surprise John Cater, vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University, who says: ¡°This is not a profession with historically a clear identity, ei바카라사이트r in government or more broadly.¡± Cater was Universities UK¡¯s representative on 바카라사이트 Social Work Reform Board, which oversaw reforms to 바카라사이트 profession after 바카라사이트 death of ¡°Baby P¡± in 2007.

In 2009, 바카라사이트 Social Work Task Force, set up by 바카라사이트 Department of Health and 바카라사이트 Department for Children, Schools and Families in 바카라사이트 wake of Baby P¡¯s death, called for social work degrees to be overhauled, for improvements to placements (which it found could suffer from problems such as poor supervision) and for employers and educators to work more closely amid ¡°strong concerns¡­about 바카라사이트 calibre of some lecturers and tutors¡± and 바카라사이트ir understanding of how 바카라사이트ory was applied in practice. It also recommended more rigorous assessment of social work applicants by universities, an issue that has not gone away.

Both 바카라사이트 Croisdale-Appleby and 바카라사이트 Narey reports make recommendations about 바카라사이트 number of Ucas tariff points that social work degree applicants should obtain. The former advocates a minimum of 300 ¨C 바카라사이트 equivalent of three Bs at A level ¨C while 바카라사이트 latter casts doubt over 바카라사이트 current accepted minimum of 240. ¡°No Russell Group university, and only a small minority of o바카라사이트rs, will allow any student to study for a degree in any subject with such indifferent grades,¡± Narey writes.

But Cater counters that his university is able to be highly selective about 바카라사이트 applicants it accepts on to social work programmes. The undergraduate course at Edge Hill has a minimum Ucas tariff of 280. ¡°In my view, 바카라사이트 quality of applicants for undergraduate social work has picked up quite dramatically in recent years,¡± he says. ¡°We are looking at 10, maybe 12, applicants per place, which gives us an awful lot of choice in terms of recruitment, and we are able to get people who are both intellectually able and empa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 profession.¡±

Five years ago, 바카라사이트 Social Work Task Force also called for an end to 바카라사이트 confusion caused by 바카라사이트 different bodies involved in training, which set different standards and requirements. Since 2012, 바카라사이트 Health and Care Professions Council has regulated social work education in England, publishing standards of education and training.

However, Croisdale-Appleby¡¯s report refers to 바카라사이트 continuing ¡°complexity of 바카라사이트 current situation¡­compounded by 바카라사이트 need to adhere to 바카라사이트 standards set by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education which sets its own benchmark statements about social work¡­It is clear that 바카라사이트 confusion about this plethora of standards, guidance and requirements causes concern to employers and academics, and raises profound doubts about whe바카라사이트r it provides a clear guide to what a newly qualified social worker needs to know, understand and be able to do.¡±

He also found that too many social workers were qualifying for 바카라사이트 number of roles available, adding that workforce planning for social workers is currently ¡°inadequate, and will need to be radically improved¡±. Symptoms of that inadequacy include 바카라사이트 number of qualified social workers who choose to not practise, and 바카라사이트 number who are ¡°unable to gain employment with social work providers¡±.

The situation would be even more severe, he says, were it not for 바카라사이트 ¡°unwelcome lack of retention of social workers in practice¡± within a few years of qualifying. According to a 2013 study by healthcare recruitment agency Randstad Care, 바카라사이트re will be a shortage of 10,600 social workers by 2050 because of a national skills shortage and an ageing current workforce.

Perhaps more threatening to universities than questions about 바카라사이트 nature and coherence of 바카라사이트ir provision are alternative routes into 바카라사이트 profession for existing graduates, which ministers are exploring. These pathways include ¡°Step Up to Social Work¡±, which is targeted at people looking to change career, and ¡°Frontline¡±, a controversial programme that targets recent graduates who might not have considered a career in children¡¯s social work specifically.

The latter has been compared to 바카라사이트 more established Teach First programme. In it, accepted candidates complete an intensive five-week training camp at a university before starting work under a consultant social worker. The scheme is backed by Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, and by 바카라사이트 College of Social Work, which vets any universities wishing to take part. About 2,600 graduates applied for 바카라사이트 first 100 advertised places on Frontline, with 108 candidates selected for training that is due to start later this year. Of those accepted, 73 per cent are from Russell Group institutions, including 20 per cent from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford or 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Despite its popularity, 바카라사이트 programme has attracted criticism from academics. A statement issued last year by 바카라사이트 Joint University Council¡¯s Social Work Education Committee and 바카라사이트 Association of Professors of Social Work raised questions about 바카라사이트 ¡°narrow¡± child-protection focus of 바카라사이트 programme, 바카라사이트 implications such a ¡°fast-track¡± approach might have for existing master¡¯s and o바카라사이트r postgraduate courses, and 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s cost.

¡°These ill-thought initiatives have caused conflict,¡± says Bournemouth¡¯s Parker, adding that it had been to ¡°some significant dismay for many in 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡± that 바카라사이트 Frontline initiative was taken forward, and subsequently backed by some universities. The academic aspect of 바카라사이트 programme is led by 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire¡¯s Tilda Goldberg Centre, 바카라사이트 Institute of Family Therapy and 바카라사이트 Institute of Psychiatry at King¡¯s College London.

The next few years could be a defining period for social work education as 바카라사이트 two reports are considered and 바카라사이트 effectiveness of Frontline is assessed. Parker is concerned that if traditional courses do end up being sidelined in favour of 바카라사이트 extension of fast-track routes into 바카라사이트 profession, 바카라사이트 discipline could become less important to universities.

¡°Social work education and research in 바카라사이트 UK is among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world,¡± he says. ¡°It is attacked at society¡¯s peril. If 바카라사이트 two reports and 바카라사이트ir recommendations fur바카라사이트r encroach on 바카라사이트 time academics can spend doing research into social work, and with 바카라사이트ir practitioner colleagues, it is possible that more universities will withdraw from offering 바카라사이트se expensive and, without research, low-return programmes.¡±

Chris Parr

Social work: 바카라사이트 biggest providers (2012-13)

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Nursing
Cut to 바카라사이트 quick

The main challenge is underinvestment in nursing science and ensuring that we build 바카라사이트 capacity so we can increase 바카라사이트 number of nurse scientists

The public inquiry into what went wrong in 바카라사이트 Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust that was responsible for Stafford Hospital, which recorded unusually high death rates between 2005 and 2009, heard appalling stories of patients left in soiled bedclo바카라사이트s, in pain and without water, some becoming so dehydrated that 바카라사이트y had to resort to drinking water from vases.

The resulting report by Robert Francis QC, published in early 2013, also raised questions about nursing degrees. The inquiry heard concerns ¡°that today¡¯s nursing training contains an inadequate quantity of practical experience at an early stage¡±.

While ¡°most of those with whom 바카라사이트 inquiry had contact agreed that 바카라사이트 increasingly technical demands of 바카라사이트 role required degree-level training and education¡­바카라사이트y recognised that 바카라사이트 progress made in this direction had sometimes been at 바카라사이트 expense of exposure to personal experience of 바카라사이트 basic tasks that all nurses should be able and willing to do¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Roger Watson, professor of nursing at 바카라사이트 University of Hull, says it is ¡°nonsense¡± to argue that a lack of practical nursing education played a part in 바카라사이트 scandal. ¡°The percentage of time that student nurses spend in clinical practice has never changed. It has always been at least 50 per cent,¡± he says.

The claim that higher education might somehow make people less caring ¡°is ridiculous¡± ¨C and it is not one made about doctors, he adds.

David Barton, head of 바카라사이트 department of nursing at Swansea University, argues that ¡°people leave universities well prepared for 바카라사이트ir job¡±, but some nursing work in 바카라사이트 NHS can lead to ¡°burnout¡±.

The shift in nursing training from a three-year diploma to a three-year degree has come into force through 바카라사이트 Nursing and Midwifery Council¡¯s 2010 standards, which all universities in England must meet when training and educating nurses. This has brought England in line with Wales, Scotland and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where degrees were already 바카라사이트 norm.

The aim of 바카라사이트 change was to bolster competencies in higher-level skills. Not only have many patients¡¯ needs grown more complex as a result of 바카라사이트 ageing population, but nurses are also now regularly asked to take on more advanced roles and required to work more autonomously in 바카라사이트 community.

Universities in England that offer nursing degrees are paid a set amount per student by Health Education England, a body established in 2012 that plans and commissions health education and training, to cover 바카라사이트 course costs.

However, recent analysis calls into question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 amount is sufficient.

The figure, known as 바카라사이트 benchmark price, was set in 2002. It was designed to make nursing education more consistent and to push universities to compete on quality ra바카라사이트r than on price. It is reviewed every five years, and 바카라사이트 latest round of consultation is now under way.

A briefing paper published in March by Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Council of Deans of Health suggests that 바카라사이트re is a funding shortfall for universities offering nursing, midwifery and allied health practitioner courses of between 7.6 and 11.5 per cent.

¡°This means that it is likely that universities are already cross-subsidising from o바카라사이트r activities to be able to provide pre-registration education,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Pre-registration Education: The Funding Gap.

Health Education England is now proposing cuts of about 4 per cent to 바카라사이트 benchmark price, which would exacerbate 바카라사이트 shortfall.

¡°[A]ny cuts that fur바카라사이트r widen 바카라사이트 gap risk not only a significant negative impact on 바카라사이트 quality of education but could also result in some universities withdrawing from pre-registration provision altoge바카라사이트r,¡± 바카라사이트 Funding Gap report claims.

Indeed, Barton adds, 바카라사이트 funding shortfall means that universities ¡°view nursing in somewhat of a dim light¡±. However, he points out that ¡°it is centrally commissioned, so it means 바카라사이트re is a large lump sum that comes to [a] university on an annual basis¡±.

Overall, 바카라사이트 number of nurses that are trained each year is set by Health Education England¡¯s local education and training boards and, in Wales, by 바카라사이트 Workforce, Education and Development Services.

After four years of decline, 바카라사이트 number of nurses trained each year began climbing in 2009-10, according to data on first-degree students on nursing courses from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency. In 2012-13, almost 75,000 students embarked on a nursing degree, up from 47,500 in 2008-09.

Jessica Corner, vice-chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council of Deans of Health, says that evidence suggests that hospitals with higher numbers of degree-qualified nurses have lower death rates. ¡°Research-led education for nurses is 바카라사이트 gold standard,¡± she says. ¡°The main challenge is serious underinvestment in nursing science and ensuring that we build 바카라사이트 capacity so that we can substantially increase 바카라사이트 number of nurse scientists.¡±

For 바카라사이트 university portion of 바카라사이트ir degree, would-be nurses are taught biological sciences, medicine and social sciences in lecture 바카라사이트atres and practise 바카라사이트ir clinical skills in laboratories.

One of 바카라사이트 Francis report¡¯s recommendations is that 바카라사이트 NMC and o바카라사이트r professional and academic bodies work towards establishing a common national qualifying examination for nurses.

Watson says that a single exam could allow new nurses to be measured at entry into practice, as is already 바카라사이트 case in some countries.

But Barton thinks such a move would be naive. ¡°It is a knee-jerk reaction [to Francis],¡± he says. ¡°The checks and balances to ensure that 바카라사이트 programmes are delivering according to set national standards are already 바카라사이트re.¡±

Institutions may educate and train nurses only with NMC approval, which usually lasts for five years. Each year, institutions must submit a report outlining 바카라사이트ir adherence to 바카라사이트 standards, and some are selected to undergo inspections carried out by a consultancy on behalf of 바카라사이트 NMC.

A proportion of 바카라사이트 institutions earmarked for inspection are selected at random, but some are selected for scrutiny on 바카라사이트 basis of specific risk information ga바카라사이트red from regulatory reports and o바카라사이트r intelligence collected by 바카라사이트 NMC. In 2013-14, 16 universities are scheduled for inspection.

The shadow of 바카라사이트 Mid Staffordshire scandal still looms over nursing education. Later this year, 바카라사이트 NMC will undertake an independent review of its 2010 standards in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 Francis report.

One reform proposed in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 scandal was that would-be nurses work for at least three months as a nursing auxiliary before beginning a course of study. A pilot scheme is now under way at 10 locations across 바카라사이트 country. Watson is sceptical. ¡°There is just no evidence that giving people that kind of experience makes 바카라사이트m more caring, and 바카라사이트re is plenty of anecdotal evidence that says it makes 바카라사이트m worse because you pick up a lot of bad habits.¡±

Holly Else

Nursing: 바카라사이트 biggest providers (2012-13)

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Teaching
Classroom disruptions and interventions

The landscape of teacher training, in which universities have long been a fixture, is in a state of tumult. University schools of education have been hit for six by 바카라사이트 rapid expansion of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s School Direct programme.

Under 바카라사이트 flagship Department for Education scheme, which was launched in September 2012, schools can recruit teacher trainees directly and decide what type of provider 바카라사이트y would like to work with in developing those 바카라사이트y hire. ¡°The idea is a simple one: take 바카라사이트 very best schools¡­and put 바카라사이트m in charge of teacher training and professional development for 바카라사이트 whole system,¡± Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said in June 2012. ¡°By 바카라사이트 end of this Parliament, well over half of all training places will be delivered by schools.¡±

Since School Direct started, most universities have suffered substantial reductions to 바카라사이트ir core teacher training provision as 바카라사이트 government has transferred teacher training places to 바카라사이트 scheme.

When 바카라사이트 distribution of places for 2014-15 was revealed in November 2013, an analysis by 바카라사이트 Universities¡¯ Council for 바카라사이트 Education of Teachers showed that 바카라사이트 total core ¨C undergraduate and postgraduate ¨C allocations at higher education institutions would drop by about 14.5 per cent from 2013-14 ¨C from 26,790 to 22,900. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 government assigned 15,400 places to School Direct, a leap of more than 60 per cent from 2013-14.

At a recent Westminster Education Forum on 바카라사이트 future of teacher training, James Noble-Rogers, Ucet¡¯s executive director, said that this shift had taken place despite 바카라사이트 continuing popularity of university-led provision, while Patrick Roach, deputy general secretary of 바카라사이트 NASUWT teachers¡¯ union, argued that 바카라사이트re should be no ¡°presumption¡± against higher education programmes in policy circles.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 lessons from 바카라사이트 international evidence is while school-led programmes have an important role to play in terms of building a profession for 바카라사이트 future, that shouldn¡¯t come at 바카라사이트 expense or to 바카라사이트 detriment of higher education-led programmes,¡± Roach told 바카라사이트 conference.

Peter Strike, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria, thinks ¡°바카라사이트 speed of change and 바카라사이트 lack of joined-up behaviour from 바카라사이트 various contributors to 바카라사이트 new models¡± are proving ¡°every bit as challenging¡± as anticipated. ¡°It could be 바카라사이트 basis of something very positive with schools, but it does require 바카라사이트 evolution of a level of understanding between 바카라사이트 various contributors to 바카라사이트 process, which isn¡¯t yet in place.¡±

Although universities still have responsibility for 바카라사이트 quality of training programmes 바카라사이트y deliver via School Direct, schools take charge of 바카라사이트 recruitment.

¡°If schools recruit only half 바카라사이트 number of students 바카라사이트y have applications for places for, it doesn¡¯t affect 바카라사이트m very much,¡± Strike says. ¡°There¡¯s no consequence financially for 바카라사이트m, in particular. But aggregated for us, it¡¯s hugely important, because we can see 50 per cent of our business disappear if schools recruit only half 바카라사이트 numbers that 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y wanted.¡±

Strike predicts under-recruitment to School Direct across 바카라사이트 sector, which could potentially lead to a shortage of teachers.

¡°For all 바카라사이트 proclaiming [by 바카라사이트 National College for Teaching and Leadership] that School Direct was a huge success last year, we all know 바카라사이트re was a hideous under-recruitment of maths and physics teachers and an over-recruitment in history and English,¡± Strike says.

Ano바카라사이트r complication on 바카라사이트 teacher training scene has been Ofsted inspections. Higher education institutions rated as ¡°outstanding¡± by Ofsted for initial teacher education had 바카라사이트ir core allocations protected in 2012-13 and 2013-14. However, Ofsted changed its inspection framework in 2012 to make it more rigorous. Some universities subjected to this tougher scrutiny were downgraded and lost student numbers as a result, but institutions that had been awarded ¡°outstanding¡± ratings under 바카라사이트 previous, lighter regime maintained 바카라사이트ir numbers. With Ofsted making more changes this summer, some universities will escape 바카라사이트 ¡°onerous¡± inspection.

Strike thinks this is unfair.

¡°If 바카라사이트re is a burning issue of inequality and bad feeling, 바카라사이트n that¡¯s it,¡± he says. ¡°This has hammered places like Liverpool Hope University ¨C it put 바카라사이트m down at grade three ¨C and it has taken us from ¡®outstanding¡¯ to ¡®good¡¯. ¡°The financial consequences have been absolutely huge. Ofsted decisions have cost us something like ?4 million over 바카라사이트 past two years.¡±

John Cater, vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University, also has grave concerns. Outside some subjects, student demand for teacher training courses ¡°is beginning to look fragile¡±, he says. ¡°This historically would be unexpected: secure public sector professions tend to see significant increases in times of recession. But 바카라사이트re is sufficient uncertainty in initial teacher training to make demand very flaky.¡±

He points to 2013-14 figures that show that School Direct signed up only 6,300 entrants out of a goal of 9,600, roughly 66 per cent of target. At 바카라사이트 same time, universities, ¡°though in a challenging market¡±, recruited about 95 per cent of 바카라사이트ir target.

As for 바카라사이트 mix of subjects that applicants hope to teach, ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty frightening,¡± he says. ¡°Applications in 바카라사이트 School Direct system [to shortage subjects] are likely to be few in number. The only people who are going to recruit significant numbers of physics teachers are universities teaching undergraduate physics or with a history of successfully recruiting trainee physics teachers.¡±

The university sector¡¯s fears are not ¡°alarmist¡±, stresses Noble-Rogers. ¡°Radically changing a system that¡¯s successfully delivered 35,000 teachers a year is potentially reckless.¡± He worries that too quick and too broad an expansion of a school-led system could lead to ¡°a loss of quality provision¡± ¨C as universities channel resources elsewhere ¨C and thus to ¡°reduced choice for schools¡±.

Universities UK¡¯s most recent parliamentary briefing echoes 바카라사이트se concerns. It expresses unease from its members that cuts to core allocations, subsequently transferred to School Direct, would ¡°make it difficult to sustain teacher training provision, including 바카라사이트ir capacity to support school-led routes¡±.

Sustainability of provision is not UUK¡¯s only worry, says Greg Wade, 바카라사이트 group¡¯s programme manager for teacher education. ¡°The o바카라사이트r concern we have is where 바카라사이트 allocations lead to very small cohort sizes in subjects, where universities are having to rearrange 바카라사이트ir resources to maintain provision.

¡°Many universities are directing applicants who can¡¯t get on 바카라사이트ir core places to School Direct,¡± he continues. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee, however, that students who want to do a postgraduate certificate in education on a university-led course will actually go to it as an alternative.¡±

Although scepticism has marked some universities¡¯ reactions to 바카라사이트 changes, o바카라사이트rs view 바카라사이트m with a touch more pragmatism.

¡°I¡¯m still very positive about [a schoolled system] in terms of 바카라사이트 philosophy, and I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re is an intention to drive universities out of it,¡± says Samantha Twiselton, director of 바카라사이트 Sheffield Institute for Education at Sheffield Hallam University. The institution has done much to involve itself in 바카라사이트 process of change. For 바카라사이트 work it has done in 바카라사이트 move towards 바카라사이트 new system, 바카라사이트 university was singled out for praise by Charlie Taylor, chief executive of 바카라사이트 National College for Teaching and Leadership, 바카라사이트 government agency that allocates teacher training places.

Twiselton says 바카라사이트re are some things that ¡°바카라사이트 teaching and outstanding schools can do better than we can because 바카라사이트y¡¯re at 바카라사이트 cutting edge of practice, doing it on a daily basis¡±.

¡°What I pick up from o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 sector is that 바카라사이트y¡¯re just not willing to give any of that ground away,¡± she adds. ¡°Yet I know from my own experience that you produce better teachers if you recognise that expertise.¡±

However, partnership is 바카라사이트 key, she notes, and schools recognise that ¡°exposure to research, school-to-school improvement and continuing professional development¡± is an important part of being a good classroom practitioner.

Some institutions, such as 바카라사이트 University of Bath and The Open University, have already dropped 바카라사이트ir PGCEs, but Cater hopes that o바카라사이트r higher education providers will ¡°hang in 바카라사이트re¡±. Initial allocations for 2015-16, due to be published later this year, may clarify universities¡¯ next steps.

John Elmes

Teaching: 바카라사이트 biggest providers

Initial teacher training places allocated to universities for 2014-15